Art Pepper is one of the jazz world’s best know saxophonists. He played and recorded extensively throughout his four decade career, until his passing in 1982. Luckily, during his later years, the tapes were rolling during live shows, and he and his wife, Laurie, cataloged many of those shows. After his death, Laurie picked exquisite performances, and made them available to his fans. Now, those releases see a worldwide retail release.

Unreleased Art Vol. 1: The Complete Abashiri Concert – November 22, 1981 features a set from Art, pianist George Cables, bassist David Williams, and drummer Carl Burnett, recorded on Pepper’s last tour of Japan (he died the following year) - a performance Laurie Pepper refers to as “the wildest and most emotional concert of the tour” in her liner notes. After “Body And Soul” Pepper remarks, “That was one of the nicest things that I think I’ve ever played in my life.” The double CD and digital set also includes standards like “Besame Mucho” and Thelonius Monk’s “Rhythm-A-Ning,” plus Pepper originals “Road Waltz,” “Straight Life,” and more.

Packaging contains photos and an essay from Laurie Pepper, outlining the songs, the band, the stories, and the magic that was and is Art Pepper.