Art Pepper Quintet – Smack Up

Smack Up, recorded October 24–25, 1960 and released the same year, is a commanding session by the Art Pepper Quintet that underscores Pepper’s prowess as a leader and improviser. Accompanied by Jack Sheldon on trumpet, Pete Jolly on piano, Jimmy Bond on bass, and Frank Butler on drums, Pepper frames a repertoire composed entirely by fellow saxophonists. The sonic palette ranges from bop to blues to free-leaning edges, highlighting both technical command and expressive depth. The session is notable for its balance: the ensemble remains cohesive, yet each musician retains ample space to articulate voice and vision.

The title track “Smack Up” kicks off with urgency and tension, while “Las Cuevas de Mario” introduces shifting time feels and rhythmic intrigue. Other highlights include the swinging tribute “A Bit of Basie,” the blues-inflected “How Can You Lose,” and the contemplative ballad “Maybe Next Year.” The closing “Tears Inside,” a bold choice from Ornette Coleman’s catalog, reveals Pepper’s willingness to flirt with the avant while remaining grounded in melodic clarity. Over time, *Smack Up* has earned respect as an advanced post-bop statement and a key document of West Coast jazz undercurrents.

Reviews

"The great altoist (who never seemed to make an uninspired record during his unstable life) is in excellent form in a quintet with trumpeter Jack Sheldon, pianist Pete Jolly, bassist Jimmy Bond, and drummer Frank Butler." – AllMusic

“Smack Up is an uncomfortable title for a journey into darkness … the result is Pepper at his probing, stabbing best, trading with trumpet Jack Sheldon and driving with a killer rhythm section.” – All About Jazz