Art Pepper’s autobiography Straight Life (1979), written by Pepper and his wife Laurie, describes his life-long descent into heroin addiction and prison and then his struggles to resurrect his life and his career. Despite his stressful childhood and life-long addiction to heroin, Art Pepper is considered one of the great alto jazz players of all time, second only to Charlie Parker himself. It’s impossible to choose just a few tunes that are reflective of his great talent and creative, jazz genius, but what I’ve selected is probably predictable—one from his 1957 album (and arguably his greatest) Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section; one from his 1960 album Gettin’ Together; and one from a later album the 1980 Straight Life, one of my favorites.
Horace Silver, a pianist, composer, and bandleader, was one of the most popular and influential musicians of the 1950s and ’60s. He became “leader” of a new bop movement called hard bop, which emphasized jazz’s blues and gospel roots. He wrote what arguably could be the most recognized vamps of modern jazz: the intro to “Song for My Father.”
Also on the birthday jazz playlist are Gene Harris, Clifford Jordan, and Walter Davis, Jr.
Here’s the night’s playlist:
Art Pepper “You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To” composed by Cole Porter from Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section (1957) on OJC — Art Pepper, alto; Red Garland, piano; Paul Chambers, bass; Philly Joe Jones, drums.
Art Pepper “Bijou the Poodle” composed by Hammerstein from Getting’ Together (1960) on OJC — Art Pepper, alto; Conte Candoli, trumpet; Wynton Kelley, piano; Paul Chambers, bass; Jimmy Cobb, drums
Fats Navarro “Symphonette” composed by Tadd Dameron from Fats Navarro featured with the Tadd Dameron Band (1948) on Milestones — Fats Navarro, trumpet; Milt Jackson, vibes; Rudy Williams, alto; Allan Eager, tenor; Tadd Dameron, piano; Curly Russell, bass; Kenny Clarke, drums
Gene Harris “C. C. Rider” composed by Ma Rainey from Black and Blue (1991) on Concord — Gene Harris, piano; Ron Eschete, guitar; Luther Hughes, bass; Harold Jones, drums
Gene Harris “Jive Samba” composed by Nat Adderley from Alley Cats (1999) on Concord — Gene Harris, piano; Red Holloway, tenor; Frank Potenza, guitar; Jack McDuff, organ; Luther Hughes, bass; Paul Kreibich on drums. Recorded live at Jazz Alley in Seattle on December 11-12, 1998
Frank Newton “Tab’s Blues” composed by Tab Smith from Frankie’s Jump (1939) on Swingtime — Frank Newton, tpt, and His Cafe Society Orchestra: Tab Smith, alto; Kenneth Hollow, tenor; Kenny Kersey, piano; Ulyssess Livingston, guitr; Johnny Williams, bass; Eddie Dougherty, drums.
Horace Silver “Diggin’ on Dexter” composed by Horace Silver from the hardbop grandpop (1996) on GRP — Horace Silver, piano, leader; Claudio Roditi, trumpet; Michael Brecker, tenor; Steve Turre, trombone; Ronnie Cuber, baritone; Ron Carter, bass; Lewis Nash, drums
Horace Silver “Sister Sadie” composed by Horace Silver from Blowin’ the Blues Away (1959) on Blue Note — Horace Silver, piano; Blue Mitchell, trumpet; Junior Cook, tenor; Gene Taylor, bass; Louis Hayes, drums
Horace Silver “Song for My Father” composed by Horace Silver from song For My Father (1964) on Blue Note — Horace Silver, piano; Joe Henderson, tenor; Carmell Jones, trumpet; Teddy Smith, bass; Roger Humphries
Rex Stuart ‘s Big Seven “cherry” composed by Redman from Rex Stewart and the Ellingtonians (1940) on Riverside — Rex Stuart, cornet; Lawrence Brown, trombone; Barney Bigard, clarinet; Billy Kyle, piano; Brick Fleagle, guitar; Wellman Braud, bass; Dave Tough, drums
Art Pepper “Make a List (Make a Wish)” composed by Art Pepper from Straight Life (1980) on OJC — Art Pepper, alto; Tommy Flanagan, piano; bassist Red Mitchell, and drummer Billy Higgins
Gene Harris “Listen Here” composed by Eddie Harris from Listen Here (1989) on Concord — Gene Harris, piano; guitarist Ron Eschete, bassist Ray Brown, and drummer Jeff Hamilton
Clifford Jordan “Billie’s Bounce” composed by Charlie Parker from . Blowin’ in from Chicago (1957) on Blue Note — Clifford Jordan and John Gilmore on tenor; Horace Silver, piano; bassist Curly Russell, and drummer Art Blakey
Walter Davis, Jr. “Rhumba Nhumba” composed by Walter Davis from Davis Cup (1959) on Blue Note — Walter Davis, Jr., piano; Donald Byrd, trumpet; Jackie McLean, alto; Sam Jones, bass; Art Taylor, Drums
Walter Davis, Jr. “Minor Mind” composed by Walter Davis from Davis Cup (1959) on Blue Note — Walter Davis, Jr., piano; Donald Byrd, trumpet; Jackie McLean, alto; Sam Jones, bass; Art Taylor, Drums
Clifford Jordan “Senor Blues” composed by Horace Silver from Soul Foundation (1968) on Atlantic — Clifford Jordan, tenor; Big John Patton, organ; Jimmy Owens, trumpet; Julian Priester, trombone; Ray Barreto, congas; Ben Tucker, bass; Billy Higgins, drums
Call and Response 