Craft Recordings’ new vinyl pressing of ‘Smack Up’ is flawless, a term that also describes this music from the late alto saxophonist Art Pepper.

John Coltrane’s ‘Interstellar Space,’ released 45 years ago this month, is just one of jazz’s greatest final recordings.

In 2007, twenty five years after Art Pepper’s death, his widow Laurie began issuing concert recordings of her late husband covering the period of his remarkable renaissance of the last seven years of his life. You May Also Like: Art Pepper – ‘Smack Up’ (1960; 2024 reissue) Brecker Brothers –Read More

In November of 1980, things were going pretty well for Art Pepper. His newly published autobiography co-written with wife Laurie Straight Life had been receiving positive reviews You May Also Like: Art Pepper – ‘Smack Up’ (1960; 2024 reissue) Soft Works – ‘Abracadabra in Osaka’ (2020)

“Thank you very much, you make me feel so wonderful. It’s been a pleasure being here but I really must go now, it’s so hot.” — Clifford Brown at the end of his final performance, June 25, 1956 You May Also Like: Jazz’s Best Last Records by John Coltrane, EricRead More

Stan Kenton would have been 100 this year and, in many ways, he’s as misunderstood now as he was in his own time. You May Also Like: 14 Jazz Orchestra, Jazzrausch Bigband + Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra: Big Bands on Different Paths

The story of Art Pepper’s remarkable emergence from the abyss of drug addiction and incarceration is one of the most uplifting stories among jazz greats, amongst stories that have more often ended tragically. His comeback was not only complete, but had even exceeded his earlier peak. For the last fiveRead More

by S. Victor Aaron There’s often a certain poignancy inherent in the last recordings of great musicians, and last October we examined notable final recordings of such jazz legends such as Bill Evans, Clifford Brown and John Coltrane. In that article, Goin’ Home by alto saxophonist Art Pepper was citedRead More

by S. Victor Aaron Some favorite jazz albums of mine that don’t come up at the top of anyone else’s top records list, but I thought were outstanding despite the lack of publicity about them. … You May Also Like: Jazz’s Best Last Records by John Coltrane, Eric Dolphy +Read More