Album Notes

Art Pepper, legendary alto sax player, is known as one of the greatest jazz artists of his generation. But he always soared far beyond the dated categories of swing and be-bop in his lyricism, technical brilliance, soulfulness, and solid, down-home raunchy sweetness. VOLUME 3 is a TWO DISC SET, a (nearly) complete concert performed in Croydon, England at the acoustically admirable Fairfield Hall. Art was, at this time, almost continually touring with the first of his comeback bands, and this band was TIGHT. They knew and understood the tunes and communicated as only true jazz people can in performance, like a team of rhythmic, lyric, limber psychics. All Art's bands had great moments. This is one of those moments with this magnificent band: Milcho Leviev on piano, Bob Magnusson on upright bass, Carl Burnett on drums. John S. Wilson praised this quartet in the New York Times, saying they made Art’s “innate rhythmic drive even more buoyant” and referring to Bob Magnusson as “fabulously fast-fingered.” Critic Gary Giddins, in The Village Voice, said Bob Magnusson's “sure time and rich tone in the bottom register complemented Pepper’s frequently ethereal gambits” and praised Carl Burnett’s “chatty responsiveness.” Musician and critic Jon Hendricks called Milcho Leviev “a most marvelous pianist, a real joy. He plays with beauty and passion.” When I sent Milcho these discs, he listened and then called me up, exultant. "We were so good!" he said. "We were so good!" Mastered by Wayne Peet, the quality is excellent. (Included: a twelve page booklet with reminiscences and photos by Laurie) (moi). Nobody has it. It's an instant collectors' item. This album is the third of a series of mostly unreleased material which include performances recorded live and in-studio throughout Art Pepper's career. Some "unreleased" tracks have been illegally exchanged (I mean they have been traded or, sold by people who haven't given me, Laurie, Art Pepper's widow and intended beneficiary, a taste: The taste that Art supposed I'd be entitled to.) Thus, the title of the series, "Widow's Taste." What I'm doing here, is: 1. I'm introducing truly unreleased and unheard Art to people who want to hear it. 2. I'm introducing Art to people who thought they knew what jazz was (incomprehensible bebop), so they can correct that awful impression and fill their lives with soulful beauty. 3. I'm introducing Art to people who thought they knew what jazz was (Kenny G) and didn't like it. If you like Kenny G, just go away. There's nothing for you here.