The legacy of alto saxophone legend Art Pepper is celebrated through three of his albums being included in the latest instalment of the Contemporary Records Acoustic Sounds series of vinyl and hi-res digital releases made available through Craft Recordings.
Pepper, whose widow, Laurie, has made many of his previously unreleased late recordings available, was a major force in the Contemporary Records catalogue of the late 1950s through to the 1970s despite well-documented problems with drug addiction that saw him serve time in prison.
His albums Smack Up, Gettin’ Together and Intensity, which are included in this new catch of reissues, are among his fans’ favourites of the Contemporary period.
They join releases including fellow saxophonists Sonny Rollins’ classic Way Out West, Harold Land’s The Fox and Ben Webster’s At the Renaissance to be pressed on 180-gramme vinyl and presented in old-style tip-on jackets during 2024.
Also included are Pepper associate, pianist Hampton Hawes, singer Helen Humes and two players who went on to reach an audience beyond jazz aficionadiswith Tom Waits, drummer Shelly Manne and saxophonist Teddy Edwards.
The full schedule of releases is:
Art Pepper Quintet — Smack Up (releasing February 23, 2024)
Shelly Manne & His Men — At the Black Hawk, Vol. 1. (releasing March 1, 2024)
Harold Land — The Fox (releasing April 12, 2024)
Hampton Hawes — For Real! (releasing May 17, 2024)
Howard McGhee — Maggie’s Back in Town!! (releasing June 14, 2024)
Teddy Edwards & Howard McGhee — Together Again!!!! (releasing July 12, 2024)
Prince Lasha Quintet — The Cry! (releasing August 16, 2024)
Ben Webster — At the Renaissance (releasing September 13, 2024)
Art Pepper — Gettin’ Together! (releasing October 11, 2024)
Art Pepper — Intensity (releasing October 11, 2024)
Helen Humes — Songs I Like to Sing! (releasing November 8, 2024)
Sonny Rollins — Way Out West (releasing December 6, 2024)