After time in prison in California following a drug bust in 1954, alto saxophonist Art Pepper returned to work in Los Angeles in 1956. The Return of Art Pepper was recorded on August 6, 1956 for Jazz West, a subsidiary of Aladdin Records. The LP was produced by Herb Kimmel, who ran the the Jazz West label. The album, recorded at Capitol Studios in the newly completed Capitol Records Tower on Yucca and Vine Streets in Hollywood, featured Art Pepper (as), Jack Sheldon (tp), Russ Freeman (p), Leroy Vinnegar (b) and Shelly Manne (d).
All compositions were by Pepper (except for Broadway and You Go to My Head). The track list: Pepper Returns, Broadway, You Go to My Head, Angel Wings, Funny Blues, Five More, Minority, Patricia, Mambo de la Pinta and Walkin' Out Blues. [Photo above of Jack Sheldon]
The last five tracks were added later from a 1957 session for an album led by drummer Joe Morello called Collections: Pepper Steak, You're Driving Me Crazy, Tenor Blooz, Yardbird Suite and Straight Life, featuring Pepper (as,ts), Red Norvo (vib), Gerald Wiggins (p), Ben Tucker (b) and Joe Morello (d).
Here's the entire The Return of Art Pepper (Jazz West) without ad interruptions...
Other ad-free Backgrounders in my series:
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- Shorty Rogers: Cool and Crazy, go here.
