“Brown Gold” – Art Pepper Quintet (1952)

Time for a cool breeze of West Coast jazz from the Art Pepper Quartet.

This affable tune was released as a 78 rpm 10″ and 45 rpm 7″ single in 1952 and then appeared on both Pepper’s self-titled debut EP on Discovery in 1953 and then later on the 1957 LP Surf Ride on the Savoy label.

1952 was a year of accomplishment for Pepper, who came in at #2 in the Downbeat reader’s poll in the Alto Sax category that year – right behind Charlie Parker who took top honors.

Unfortunately, a drug bust in 1954 would see him behind bars for two years – putting a temporary pause on his career until 1956.

Recorded in Los Angeles, California on March 4, 1952.
Released as Discovery 157.

Credits
Art Pepper – alto sax
Hampton Hawes – piano
Joe Mondragon – bass
Larry Bunker – drums