Art Pepper: Plus Eleven

AllMusic Review by Scott Yanow

This is a true classic. Altoist Art Pepper is joined by an 11-piece band playing Marty Paicharrangements of a dozen jazz standards from the bop and cool jazz era. Trumpeter Jack Sheldon has a few solos, but the focus is very much on the altoist who is in peak form for this period. Throughout, Pepper sounds quite inspired by Paich's charts which feature the band as an active part of the music rather than just in the background. Highlights of this highly enjoyable set include "Move," "Four Brothers," "Shaw Nuff," "Anthropology," and "Donna Lee," but there is not a single throwaway track to be heard. Essential music for all serious jazz collections. [Some reissues add two additional versions of "Walkin'" and one of "Donna Lee" to the original program.]

Art Pepper + Eleven – Modern Jazz Classics is a 1960 jazz big band album by saxophonist Art Pepper performing under the direction and arrangements of Marty Paich. The recording is one of several dates Pepper made with Paich and his big band in 1959 and is the only one with Pepper as leader. The recording focuses on Paich's big band arrangements of modern jazz classics, including Denzil Best's "Move," Thelonious Monk's "'Round Midnight," Gerry Mulligan's "Walkin' Shoes". Highlights of the recording are Pepper's clarinet performances on "Anthropology" and the alternate takes of "Walkin'."

Track listing 

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Move"	Denzil Best	3:26
2.	"Groovin' High"	Dizzy Gillespie	3:22
3.	"Opus De Funk"	Horace Silver	3:13
4.	"'Round Midnight"	Hanighen, Monk, Williams	3:32
5.	"Four Brothers"	Jimmy Giuffre	2:57
6.	"Shawnuff"	Brown, Fuller, Gillespie	2:58

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Bernie's Tune"	Leiber, Miller, Stoller	2:41
2.	"Walkin' Shoes"	Gerry Mulligan	3:31
3.	"Anthropology"	Dizzy Gillespie/Charlie Parker	3:19
4.	"Airegin"	Sonny Rollins	3:01
5.	"Walkin'"	Richard Carpenter	5:15
6.	"Donna Lee"	Charlie Parker	3:23
Total length:			40:15

An expanded compact disc featuring many unreleased "alternate" takes was released on December 1, 1988.

CD expanded release

1. "Move" (Denzil Best) –3:26
2. "Groovin' High" (Dizzy Gillespie) –3:22
3. "Opus de Funk" (Horace Silver) –3:13
4. "'Round Midnight" (Hanighen, Thelonious Monk, Williams) –3:32
5. "Four Brothers" (Jimmy Giuffre) –2:57
6. "Shaw 'Nuff" (Brown, Fuller, Gillespie) –2:58
7. "Bernie's Tune" (Leiber, Miller, Stoller) –2:44
8. "Walkin' Shoes" (Gerry Mulligan) –3:31
9. "Anthropology" (Gillespie, Charlie Parker) –3:19
10. "Airegin" (Sonny Rollins) –3:01
11. "Walkin'" [Original Take] (Richard Carpenter) –5:15
12. "Walkin'" [Alternate Take] (Carpenter) –4:54
13. "Walkin'" [Alternate Take] (Carpenter) –4:58
14. "Donna Lee" [Original Take] (Charlie Parker) –3:23
15. "Donna Lee" [Alternate Take] (Charlie Parker) –3:22

(Recorded on 12 March, 24 March, 12 May 1959.)

Personnel 

• Art Pepper — alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, clarinet
• Pete Candoli — trumpet
• Al Porcino — trumpet
• Jack Sheldon — trumpet
• Dick Nash — trombone
• Bob Enevoldsen — valve trombone, tenor saxophone
• Vincent DeRosa — French horn
• Herb Geller — alto saxophone
• Bud Shank — alto saxophone
• Charlie Kennedy — alto saxophone
• Bill Perkins — tenor saxophone
• Richie Kamuca — tenor saxophone
• Med Flory — baritone saxophone
• Russ Freeman — piano
• Joe Mondragon — bass
• Mel Lewis — drums
• Marty Paich — arranger, conductor

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