Omnivore Records and widow Laurie Pepper continue to keep the career, influence and catalogue of Art Pepper alive, and we’re all better for it. This time out, the material isn’t new, but it is an obscure and long out of print 1956 session from Pepper’s days with now defunct Tampa Records. To put the album in perspective, it was released just after Playboys and before Surf Ride, so it’s vintage early Art, and he’s in clear, liquid form as he leads a team of West Coasters Russ Freeman/p, Ben Tucker/b and Gary Frommer/dr. Art and company swing with delight on medium tempo boppers like his own “Pepper Pot” and “Art’s Opus,” and swoons on a swaying “Besame Mucho.” Freeman is earthy on the sepia toned “Blues At Midnight” and everyone is tenderhearted during “Diane.” A definitive “I Surrender Dear” has Pepper as sweet as a Tootsie Roll Pop as he slides like Lou Brock around the melody. This is how an alto was made to sound!