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Including sessions recorded by Art Pepper for Savoy from 1952-54 Surf Ride was originally released in 1956. Featuring three groups of players, the album collects twelve, mostly Pepper composed, cuts including “Holiday Flight” - with Pepper’s playing throughout on superior form. This new edition of the album is released as part of the Original Jazz Classics Series on 180-gram vinyl pressed at RTI with all-analog mastering from the original tapes at Cohearent Audio and a Stoughton Tip-On Jacket. — (via Label)

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Surf Ride gathers together three early Art Pepper sessions from 1952, 1953, and 1954; an era when he was refining his voice and helping shape the early contours of West Coast jazz. Rather than feeling like a loose compilation, the album flows surprisingly well, offering a clear look at Pepper’s bright alto sax tone, quick reflexes, and gift for simple, memorable lines. As part of Craft Recordings’ Original Jazz Classics series, Surf Ride is being reissued on 180-gram vinyl from lacquers cut from the original stereo tapes (AAA) by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio.

The March 1953 session opens the album with a mix of originals and a nod to Lester Young. “Tickle Toe,” the lone Young tune here, lets Pepper tip his hat to one of his biggest influences without copying his style outright. The two originals that follow, “Chili Pepper” and “Susie the Poodle,” show his lighter side, with compact, catchy tunes built around clean melodies rather than long solos.

The final batch, from August 1954, forms the bulk of the album and shows Pepper in a more settled groove. The one standard on the album, “The Way You Look Tonight,” offers a good contrast. Pepper treats the melody with respect, adding small flourishes where they fit rather than stretching it. It’s an easygoing performance and a reminder that he could play ballads without weighing them down.

Taken together, these three sessions show a young Art Pepper developing in real time. Surf Ride serves as a document of a player who already has a clear sound and a direct, melodic approach. The tunes are short, the ideas are crisp, and the overall feel is light. For anyone curious about Pepper’s early years, Surf Ride offers an enjoyable, grounded snapshot of an artist on the rise. — (via Glide Magazine)

Vinyl Tracklist
A1 Tickle Toe
A2 Chili Pepper
A3 Susie The Poodle
A4 Brown Gold
A5 Holiday Flight
A6 Surf Ride
B1 Straight Life
B2 The Way You Look Tonight
B3 Cinnamon
B4 Nutmeg
B5 Thyme Time
B6 Art's Oregano

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Label: Craft Recordings / Savoy Records
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Mono, 180g
Reissued: 2025 / Originally Released: 1957
Genre: Jazz
Style: Bop

File under: Audiophile Jazz
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