Art Pepper - Art Pepper Presents "West Coast Sessions!" Volume 4: Bill Watrous

2017 release

In 1977 Art came back from the dead. Or so it seemed to those who followed him, followed his music. And then in 1979, the Japanese came calling in the guise of a small record label, Yupiteru, later Atlas. They wanted Art to record for them. By then, Art was under exclusive contract to Fantasy/Galaxy records and couldn’t record as a leader. However, and I think I deserve credit for this sneaky idea, he could be a “sideman.” And he could choose the “leaders.” He did six albums for Atlas with six terrific “leaders.” And they are classics, now. —Laurie Pepper

Originally issued as Funk’n Fun by the Bill Watrous Quintet in 1979, this material was recorded in March of that year at Sage & Sound Studio in Los Angeles with Watrous on trombone, Art Pepper on alto sax, bassist Bob Magnusson, Russ Freman on piano, and drummer Carl Burnett.

It was only released on LP in Japan. Now available worldwide as Art Pepper Presents “West Coast Sessions!” Volume 4: Bill Watrous, these performances are finally available again. In addition to a pair of tracks found on the 2001 boxed set The Hollywood All-Star Sessions, this release also contains photos and new liner notes from Laurie Pepper.

Art Pepper Presents “West Coast Sessions!” Volume 4: Bill Watrous joins the other 5 volumes of Art Pepper Presents “West Coast Sessions!” in celebration of superb artists firing on all cylinders. Get ready for some funk’n fun with Art Pepper Presents “West Coast Sessions!” Volume 4: Bill Watrous.