Vols 3 & 4 of Art Pepper's "West Coast Sessions" Coming in Expanded Reissues from Omnivore June 30th

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Press Release) --  Laurie Pepper, widow of legendary jazz alto saxophonist  Art Pepper, explains the West Coast Sessions! concept best in her liner notes for a pair of expanded reissues coming on June 30, 2017 from Omnivore Recordings. The rollout will include  Art Pepper Presents “West Coast Sessions!” Volume 3: Lee Konitz  and  Art Pepper Presents “West Coast Sessions!” Volume 4: Bill Watrous.
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“In 1977,” she wrote, “Art came back from the dead. Or so it seemed to those who followed him, followed his music. And then in 1979, the Japanese came calling in the guise of a small record label, Yupiteru, later   Atlas. They wanted Art to record for them. By then, Art was under exclusive contract to Fantasy/Galaxy records and couldn’t record as a leader. However, and I think I deserve credit for this sneaky idea, he could be a ‘sideman.’ And he could choose the ‘leaders.’ He did six albums for Atlas with six terrific ‘leaders.’ And they are classics, now.”

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Originally issued in 1982 as High Jingo, featuring Lee Konitz and His West Coast Friends, the material on Volume 3  was recorded in February of that year at Sage & Sound Studio in Los Angeles with Konitz on alto sax, Art Pepper also on alto sax (and clarinet!), bassist  Bob Magnusson, Michael Lang   on piano, and drummer John Dentz.

With an original title of Funk’n Fun, featuring the  Bill Watrous Quintet, the material in Volume 4 was recorded in March of 1979 at Sage & Sound Studio   in Los Angeles with Watrous on trombone, Art Pepper on alto sax, bassist Bob Magnusson, Russ Freeman  on piano, and drummer  Carl Burnett.

Both volumes were originally released only on LP in Japan.

Volume 3 Track Listing
1. S’wonderful

2. Whims Of Chambers

3. A Minor Blues In F

4. High Jingo
5. The Shadow Of Your Smile 
6. Anniversary Song
7. Cherokee
Bonus Tracks: 
8. S’wonderful (Alternate Take)

9. Whims Of Chambers (Alternate Take)

Volume 4 Track Listing
1. Just Friends
 
2. Begin The Beguine
3. When Your Lover Is Gone 
4. For Art’s Sake

5. Funny Blues

6. Angel Eyes
7. P. Town
Bonus Tracks: 
8. Funny Blues (Alternate Take) 
9. Angel Eyes (Alternate Take)

Watch the Art Pepper trailer:  https://youtu.be/dkST3h9xZxs

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