Art Pepper (1946-1982) was a prominent figure in the West Coast Jazz scene. Having learnt the clarinet from aged nine, by the time he was thirteen he'd switched to the alto sax, and by seventeen he was playing professionally with Benny Carter, and then the Stan Kenton orchestra.
After his military draft for World War II, he rejoined Kenton, and in 1952 Downbeat magazine readers poll had him as second-best altoist behind Charlie Parker. This period saw the release of his most popular albums like Art Pepper Meets The Rhythm Section, and Art Pepper + Eleven. However his career was interrupted by four prison sentences resulting from his heroin addiction, but each time his comebacks produced fine music.
His final comeback, aided by methadone therapy, produced the album here Art Pepper Today, recorded by Fantasy Records in 1978 with Stanley Cowell (piano), Cecil McBee (bass), Roy Haynes, (drums) and Kenneth Nash (percussion). The video has the three tracks on side 1 - Miss Who, Mambo Koyama and Lover Come Back To Me.
Cartridge: Technics P22 with Jico SAS stylus
Phono amp: Graham Slee Accession
Turntable: Sony PS-X600 Biotracer
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