Album Notes

(Also check out Volume 2 "The Last Concert."

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 1 is a TWO DISC SET, a complete concert performed in Abashiri, in Northern Japan, in the snowy winter of 1981 for an audience who showered Art and the guys with uncommon enthusiasm and wild love. They responded with a performance that seems to levitate with energy. You get to be there and hear Art declare this performance of "Body and Soul" "One of the nicest things I've played in my life." Mastered by Wayne Peet, the quality is excellent. (Included: an eight page booklet with reminiscences and photos by Laurie) (moi).

Nobody has it. It's an instant collectors' item.

This album is the first of a series of mostly unreleased material which will include performances recorded live and in-studio throughout his 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.