Two sax greats with immediately identifiable sounds have classic albums reissued recently, thanks to Craft Recordings.
Alto saxist Art Pepper follows up his successful Meets The Rhythm Section of Wynton Kelly/p, Paul Chambers/b and Jimmie Cobb/dr with the addition of bopper Conte Condoli on this 1960 beauty with fins. He mixes standards with originals, the latter including the swinging “Bijou The Poodle” and hip “Getting’ Together” while the horns ricochet on Monk’s “Rhythm-A-Ning” and glisten on “Softly As In A Morning Sunrise”. When West Coast Cool was HOT.
Also recorded in 1960, Ellington alumnus Ben Webster brings his fog horn of a tenor sax to Hollywood’s Renaissance for a timeless concert recording with Jimmy Rowles/p, Jim Hall/g, Red Mitchell/b and Frank Butler/dr. Webster roars like a lion through “Georgia On My Mind” and “ Stardust” while crooning in indigo for “Renaissance Blues” and “Ole Miss Blue” playing with subtones as if they were Turkish Taffy. A take of “Caravan” and “What Is This Thing Called Love” hit right through the viscera. Nimbus clouds of music.