Customer Reviews

Winter Moon

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The juxtaposition of Art Pepper's searing but beautifully melodic saxophone(s) with strings only happened near the end of Pepper's career (and life), but seems perfect and inevitable. Pepper was probably in better health for this record than any other since the late 50s, and this enables him to produce wonderful, complete improvised lines. The first track, "Our Song," is worth the price by itself.

This is a classic album..one of the most moving, penetrating and down right mellow projects of Pepper's career. He was always talented, but this CD will put you in such a mellow, laidback mode, you'll wonder why you left it out of your collection all these years! I challenge anyone not to be moved and stirred by the tune "prisoner (Theme from the Eyes of Laura Mars)." It is so rich in texture and sound, it feels like the Earth is standing still and you're rotating around it...and "Winter Moon" just lifts you up and swaddles you in soft, melodic bliss! Plus, he gives you other chilled songs that will stir the sentimental dust lying dormant in your soul! Another favorite of mine "Our Song", it is so divine, I put it on repeat, always! Can't hear it just once!

I listen to this CD during long drives to no where in the Spring, lounging on the patio in the Summer, relaxing by the fireplace in the Winter or writing prose on a Sunday morning in the Fall! Since it is musical poetry, it always inspires me for it is indeed music for all seasons.

This album is deeply beautiful. The first notes of Art Pepper's saxophone on the first cut, "Our Song," sinks into the marrow of my bones. I may not know Art Pepper, but I know he knows my grief. I thank God for giving us Art Pepper and this music. For me, it's a very personal healing experience.

Art Pepper's genius is clear on this record. I love his lyricism. The alternate take of "The Prisoner" is my favorite track. Extremely moving.

THIS COLLECTION SHOWCASES THE FINE SIDEMEN AND STRINGS WITH ART PEPPER. ART'S FINE SAX WORK,ALSO CLARINET.

A lot of musicians have tried, but Wintermoon surpasses any string jazz recording of it's kind. Alto-sax is a difficult instrument to play but Art Pepper has always made it seem easy and he makes this recording incredibly profound, beautiful and emotional.

A critic once wrote of Art Pepper something to the effect that "he hasnt made a bad record". In my experience that is true. Winter Moon is a stellar collection of tunes which showcases the nearly unlimited talent of what might be described as the definitve alto sax player in jazz history. This one's a keeper which will entertain and,perhaps,enthrall the listener for years to come

On hearing "Our Song" after he just recorded it for this session, Art stated that he couldn't have done better than he did on that song- he couldn't understand why anyone wouldn't like it. This was a project that was dear to his heart and the whole project is above what you would normally expect from a "strings" album of a major jazz star. This recording was one of his best from his later period.

This is a brilliant and beautiful record. Art's sweet-and-sour tone on alto (with a surprise turn on clarinet on "Blues in the Night") assures that there aren't any slips into sentimentality. The Bill Holman arrangements ("Our Song," "When the Sun Comes Out," "Blues in the Night," and the title tune) are superior to those by Jimmy Bond, but Art is masterful, no matter whose score he's playing.

You might also like Munk or Horace Parlan. But avoid Bud Shank at all costs!!!