Art Pepper - The Complete Maiden Voyage Recordings / 7CD Box set

2023 release

The complete recordings from Art Pepper’s three-night stand at Los Angeles’ Maiden Voyage club in 1981 • 42 performances (23 previously unissued) on seven CDs • Packaging contains Art’s original handwritten notes, photos, and an essay from his widow and set co-Producer, Laurie Pepper

When I asked Cheryl Pawelski, of Omnivore Recordings, why she was releasing this Maiden Voyage session, she said, “Because you made me.” I did. This material has been out of circulation for almost 20 years, and I’ve been obsessed with bringing it back in.

Omnivore is not only bringing it back, they’re releasing the entire session, three nights, seven sets––warts and all. ––Laurie Pepper Maiden Voyage was a Japanese-owned jazz club, near MacArthur Park in Los Angeles, from 1979¬¬–1983.

In August of 1981, alto saxophone legend Art Pepper, pianist George Cables, bassist David Williams, and drummer Carl Burnett played seven sets over three consecutive nights. Musician/Producer Ed Michel and Art’s wife, Laurie Pepper, were there, and tape rolled for every note played. When listening to the tapes, Art took meticulous notes about each performance, writing things like “The best solo I’ve played on this whole date—wow!!” and ”This is worth the whole night!” Sadly, Art would die 10 months later. Some of the performances would find their way onto posthumous releases including Arthur’s Blues, Art Lives, The Maiden Voyage Sessions, Vol. 3, Roadgame and The Complete Galaxy Recordings, but now, all three nights can be heard in full, as they happened, for the first time.

Produced for release by Laurie Pepper and Grammy® winner Cheryl Pawelski, The Complete Maiden Voyage Recordings features 42 performances (23 previously unissued) plus all of the between song banter and stories from Art’s three-night stand at the Los Angeles club on seven CDs.

The 44-page booklet features photos, Art’s original hand written notes and commentary, ephemera, and a new essay from Laurie Pepper telling Art’s story. So, prepare yourself for a true LA jazz club experience. Venture back to Maiden Voyage and relive those three summer nights when Art and his band gave it their all. As Art said in his notes about “Thank You Blues,” “My whole life went into this.” Hear it for yourself.