Exhilarating jazz from Pepper

Press, 6 July 1983, Page 10

Exhilarating jazz from Pepper

Jazz review by

ALLAN FRANCIS

ABT PEPPER. Omega Alpha. The Jazz File. Seven tracks by the Art Pepper Quartet with the leader on alto sax., Carl Perkins, piano; Ben Tucker, bass; Chuck Flores, drums. WORLD RECORDS WC 4998 from Blue Note. With nigh on an hour of magnificent invention, here is an album which must rate high on any jazz buffs chart and one which will stand the test of time. I’ve already played it many times and the effect is exhilarating. Rescued from obscurity quite recently, this session dates from April, 1957, and the impact is tremendous. Unlike any other comparable event, this one places

equal emphasis on alto and piano, the latter being the most eloquent second voice to Pepper’s alto ever recorded. Least of the venture is Pepper’s “Surf Ride,” a soso vehicle which merely provides a foretaste of better things to come and it is the standards, “Body and Soul,” “Too Close for Comfort,” “Summertime” and “Fascinating Rhythm,” where the group find their supreme inspiration. There is so much music going on that one is at a loss to absorb it all in one sitting. Carl Perkins is bursting with ideas which flow in an endless line and

Pepper keeps feeding more into the conversation Ostensibly following the style of Bud Powell, the self-taught Perkins is really in a class of his own and Pepper’s clear, concise articulation matches his partner perfectly. The recorded sound is equally tight and close. This one will assuredly make my short list for the year. CHICAGO JAZZ EXCHANGE. Elaine Hamilton, vocal, with the Chicago Jazz Exchange. Bert Dalton, piano; Neville Turner, drums; Tom Angelus, bass; Thomas Kini, guitar. 11 tracks on CBS SBP 237915. All too frequently we find

an unheralded, almost-for-gotten issue, such as the Art Pepper in the preceding review, coming up like rediscovered treasure, whereas a highly-rated group fails to live up to expectations. This is not quite the case with the Chicago Jazz Exchange, as they are unquestionably one of the shining lights of the 80s, but they get very little chance to prove it. Elaine Hamilton dominates proceedings almost to the exclusion of all else. Not that that is too bad in itself, but as the focal point she isn’t in that league. A competent jazz singer, she is best in the up-tempo numbers, “Just Friends” or “Beautiful Friendship,”

while her slower ballads, “Poor Butterfly” and “Willow Weep for Me,” have a leaden quality. Her prime fault, though, is lack of expression, a casual throw-away approach which doesn’t wear well over an entire LP. The group, with their Chico Hamilton overtones, bounce along in fine style but for all their puckish demeanour do not get continued rapport. In concert this may not be so evident, and I suspect that Miss Hamilton would perhaps be more a visual artist. Her best does not come across on record so my comments should not distract those who are intending to hear her in person.