New releases last four weeks: Funk Soul & Jazz

Review: A refined and understated session, this reissue is a masterful example of West Coast jazz, offering a smooth, mellow and introspective listening experience. Recorded between december 1956 and January 1957 in Hollywood, California, this album showed Pepper's signature melodic alto saxophone over a relaxed and fluid quartet setting. The lineup features Russ Freeman on piano, Ben Tucker on bass and Chuck Flores on drums, each contributing to the album's effortlessly cool and unfailingly swinging atmosphere. Unlike the high-energy performances found on Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section, Modern Art unfolds at a more leisurely pace, making it a perfect soundtrack for a laid-back evening. The album's bookends, 'Blues In' and 'Blues Out', frame a collection of beautifully arranged pieces, including exquisite renditions of 'Bewitched', 'Stompin' at the Savoy' and 'What Is This Thing Called Love'. One of the true highlights is 'Summertime', a performance filled with emotional depth and intensity, as though Pepper poured his very soul into each note. This Blue Note Tone Poet reissue, produced by Joe Harley and mastered by Kevin Gray from the original analogue tapes, is an essential edition. Pressed with impeccable sound quality, this release does full justice to Pepper's warm, lyrical tone. Whether you're just beginning your jazz journey or a seasoned listener, Modern Art is the type of album that continues to reveal its brilliance with every spin. If you're new to jazz, this album might just make you a fan of the West Coast sound.