Art Pepper CD's

[srigby]

Does anyone have any experience with the DCC Gold Art Pepper CD's? Are they any good?

Scott

[Matt]

I think Steve only did two: Intensity and Gettin' Together, and they're both excellent albums, especially Intensity. Steve's work blows away the OJC issues, and I prefer them to other remasters out there. Both are out of print, but you can find them for real cheap at www.musicforasong.com or on ebay, where they go for a little.

[KLM]

I have 2 of the DCC titles (Intensity & Getting Together) and they are simply wonderful. In addition, The Analogue Production releases (Smack Up, So In Love & The Intimate Art Pepper) are also outstanding. Music For A Song I beleive still has some of the DCC titles and Acoustic Sounds should have some DCC and APO titles as well.

Lastly, if you're looking for a copy of Art Pepper Meets The Rhythm Section, Contemporary Records put out a 20 bit (using JVC's K2 technology) remaster back in 2000. All are highly recommended.

[Kayaker]

I also have the 2 DCC titles - Intensity & Getting Together which I got cheap from www.musicforasong.com and think highly of them.
The K2 of "Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section" is also very good but the stereo separation leave a huge hole in the middle almost like Art Pepper and the rhythm section never met.
I also have a 20-bit remastered German OJC pressing of "Smack-Up" that is very good and one of "Modern Jazz Classics" which is very bad.
If you can find a copy of Modern Art (The Alladin Recordings) - the one in the Jazz Reference Series from France (2000) grab it. It is excellent.
Can anyone recommend anything from the 70's?
Very sad life - died too young at 56.

[Tony Caldwell]

I only have "Intensity", and it is great fun!! Oh, and the sound is great too...;)

[Steve Hoffman]

Originally posted by Kayaker

The K2 of "Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section" is also very good but the stereo separation leave a huge hole in the middle almost like Art Pepper and the rhythm section never met.



Funny. I guess in stereo they never really did meet. It wasn't until a year later that Contemporary Records discovered the center channel. Ah well. Great musical tone on the master tapes though!

[Paul C.]

Yes, I found the stereo separation on the XRCD K2 of "Meets the Rhythm Section" to be a bit disconcerting (but that was the first version of this recording I had ever heard). Despite that, I thought the quality of the recording was outstanding - it has an amazing presence, and sounds like it was recorded yesterday.

I have the DCC version of "Intensity", and it sounds great. Fantastic music. I seem to recall there being a few dropouts here and there, but nothing to detract from the music.