A live solo piano performance from 1977 that shows the brilliance of a largely unsung hero. If you like solo piano and you have the obvious Jarretts, this deserves a listen.
If you haven't got this stuff, your jazz collection is seriously lacking. This is what it's all about. Pepper coked out of his head for the fear of what he was doing and the importance for his first gig at the Village Vanguard for his comeback, a set of arrangements that were so challenging the original bass player gave up on them and left, a replacement who was up to technically but under-rehearsed...
Somehow it all holds together (sometimes only just) as all four band members throw their all into it.
For all my avant/free leanings, Pepper remains my favourite alto player. In this late period, he never coasted. You often get the spectacle of the world's greatest alto player trying desperately to prove to himself and his audience he was just that by pouring himself into his horn like no other before or since.
As I listen to this more, I realise there are sections that are as good as Keith Jarrett, Craig Taborn, Abdullah Ibrahim and any other solo piano performances I can think of.
You really need to hear this if you like solo piano. How could it have been lost and ignored for so long?
Comments
Great album.
Angelo Badalamenti
Tim Buckley
all on radio paradise. It's so good I could almost sell my music collection and listen to this all the time!
For me, this is disappointing. Not another 80/81, alas.
If you haven't got this stuff, your jazz collection is seriously lacking. This is what it's all about. Pepper coked out of his head for the fear of what he was doing and the importance for his first gig at the Village Vanguard for his comeback, a set of arrangements that were so challenging the original bass player gave up on them and left, a replacement who was up to technically but under-rehearsed...
Somehow it all holds together (sometimes only just) as all four band members throw their all into it.
For all my avant/free leanings, Pepper remains my favourite alto player. In this late period, he never coasted. You often get the spectacle of the world's greatest alto player trying desperately to prove to himself and his audience he was just that by pouring himself into his horn like no other before or since.
Why do I think of this album as 'Next Door to Bono'? :-)
Public Image Ltd. – This is PiL
As I listen to this more, I realise there are sections that are as good as Keith Jarrett, Craig Taborn, Abdullah Ibrahim and any other solo piano performances I can think of.
You really need to hear this if you like solo piano. How could it have been lost and ignored for so long?
Lovely stuff.
I haven't played this in ages. For some reason, it sounds much better than I remember.
Sounds as brilliant now as when I first heard it in the late 70s. Jazz/funk doesn't get better than this :-)
Some Talk Talk
Thomas Dolby Aliens Ate My Buick
Phyllis Hyman
Gary Moore A Different Beat.
Never been sure of this one. Not as fresh and congruent as their earlier albums, but well put together nevertheless.
Are there any other of their albums which are as good?