Personnel: Art Pepper (strings, clarinet, alto saxophone); Art Pepper; Dan Smiley, Audrey DeSilva, Elisabeth Gibson, Greg Mazmanian, Stephen Gehl, Emily VanValkenburgh, Clifton Foster, Patrice Anderson, Nathan Rubin, John Tenney (violin); Terry Adams , Sharon O'Connor, Mary Anne Meredith (cello); Cecil McBee (acoustic bass guitar); Carl Burnette (drums); Howard Roberts (guitar); Stanley Cowell (piano); Carl Burnett (drums).
Recording information: Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, CA (09/03/1980/09/04/1980).
Photographers: Phil Bray; Galen Rowell.
Arrangers: Jimmy Bond; Bill Holman.
Ever since Artie Shaw and Charlie Parker, most jazz musicians have had a desire to record at least once in their lives with strings, often considering it a prestigious honor. Altoist Art Pepper finally had his chance on this album and fortunately the string arrangements (by Bill Holman and Jimmy Bond) do not weigh down the proceedings. Pepper sounds quite inspired performing seven strong compositions highlighted by Hoagy Carmichael's "Winter Moon," "When the Sun Comes Out" and a clarinet feature on "Blues in the Night." This material (plus four alternate takes and two other songs from the same sessions) is included in the massive Art Pepper Galaxy box set. ~ Scott Yanow
