Unreleased Art, Vol. II: The Last Concert May 30, 1982 - Kennedy Center, Washington DC
| Unreleased Art, Vol. II: The Last Concert May 30, 1982 - Kennedy Center, Washington DC | ||||
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| Live album by Art Pepper | ||||
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Publication |
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| Label (s) | Widow's button | |||
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Format (s) |
CD |
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Title (number) |
8th |
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running time |
57:52 |
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| occupation |
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Laurie Pepper |
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Studio (s) |
Kennedy Center , Washington DC |
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Unreleased Art, Vol. II: The Last Concert May 30, 1982 - Kennedy Center, Washington DC is a posthumous album by alto saxophonist Art Pepper . The recordings made on May 30, 1982 in the Kennedy Center in Washington DC document his last public appearance and appeared in 2007 on Widow's Taste , the label of his widow Laurie Pepper. This was the second publication in a series of photographs from the estate entitled Unreleased Art ; it appeared on the 25th anniversary of the concert.
background
Art Pepper's widow, Laurie (his third and last wife), founded the Widow's Taste label to release more music from the saxophonist's estate and introduce him to those not yet initiated. The first two releases contained recordings from the last year of his life. The recording of Pepper's appearance at the Kool Jazz Festival is the second release in a series of never before (at least legally) released live recordings of her deceased husband, which she publishes under her label Widow's Taste . Laurie Pepper wrote:
- "I introduce really unpublished and unheard art to people who love him and want to hear him."
- "I introduce Art Pepper to people who thought they knew what jazz is (incomprehensible bebop ) so that they can correct this horrific impression and fill their lives with soulful beauty."
- “I introduce Art Pepper to people who thought they knew what jazz was ( Kenny G ) and didn't like it. If you like Kenny G just walk away. There is nothing for you here. "
After his tour of Japan, Pepper embarked on another tour in the spring of 1982, which culminated in a concert at the Kool Jazz Festival at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC. This gig, his last concert, was recorded by Voice of America . It was taken a few days before his hospital stay and death, but there is no trace of exhaustion. The saxophonist is accompanied by Roger Kellaway on piano, David Williams on bass and Carl Burnett on drums. Pepper's regular pianist George Cables was doing a more lucrative job at the time as Sarah Vaughn's musical director. The performance is interrupted by Pepper's verbal contributions. He dedicates the encore “When You're Smiling” to Zoot Sims and although the enthusiastic audience cries for more, it shouldn't be.
Sixteen days after his last appearance at the Kennedy Center in Washington, Pepper died suddenly at the age of 56.
Track list
- Art Pepper: Unreleased Art, Vol. II: The Last Concert May 30, 1982 - Kennedy Center, Washington DC (Widow's Taste APMC 07001)
- Landscape (Art Pepper)
- Talk 1:00
- Ophelia (Art Pepper) 8:43
- Talk 0:28
- Mambo Koyama (Art Pepper) 17:12
- Over the Rainbow ( EY Harburg , Harold Arlen ) 9:56
- Talk 1:31
- When You're Smiling ( Joe Goodwin , Larry Shay , Mark Fisher ) 8:05
reception
Scott Yanow gave the album 4½ (out of five) stars in Allmusic and wrote: “During a one-hour performance at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, Pepper, who played every solo in his last few years as if it were his last, put a lot of passion and creativity in 'Landscape', 'Ophelia' and especially 'Mambo Koyama' really stretched. 'Over the Rainbow' is lyrical, but no less intense. "This very valuable disc, the author sums up, is additional proof that" Art Pepper in his musical life, no matter what his personal circumstances may be at a particular point in time, never sounded less than great. "
Marc Medwin wrote in All About Jazz , "With the recording, the fans are lucky enough to have these vivid recordings." The sound is never less than acceptable and usually very clear and distinct. "If the first two parts of the series give clues to things to come, this series should be dynamite."
S. Victor Aaron said: “After living a life controlled by a harrowing drug addiction and all of the consequences that came with it, Pepper not only got his life in order, but was completely devoted to his music and making his last years among his most fruitful. He left this world as one of the world's leading alto saxophonists at the top of his game. As with Clifford Brown , the last appearance of his life was one of confidence and vitality that contradicted the fate of greeting him soon. "
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c Art Pepper: Unreleased Art Vol. 1 & 2. All About Jazz, June 8, 2008, accessed on March 27, 2020 (English).
- ↑ a b c d Art Pepper: Unreleased Art, Vol. II: The Last Concert May 30, 1982 - Kennedy Center, Washington DC Something New, July 17, 2007, accessed on March 27, 2020 .
- ↑ Art Pepper: Unreleased Art, Vol. II: The Last Concert May 30, 1982 - Kennedy Center, Washington DC at Discogs
- ^ Review of the album at Allmusic (English). Retrieved March 27, 2020.