The Art Trip is a highly accomplished three-piece trio who, on this outing, specialise in reinterpreting music either composed by or associated with Art Pepper. For this, they are joined by the presence of the great Alan Barnes who, along with Peter King, has long proved himself to be of world class stature. Despite being constantly plagued by personal demons, Art's original recordings were invariably uplifting and tinged with genuine humour. And it's these characteristics that this spirited foursome has taken into account while endeavouring to make this collection so highly attractive. A well-balanced programme it comprises six Pepper compositions (‘Chilli Pepper’, ‘Miss Who?’, ‘Straight Life’, ‘Las Cuevas de Mario’, ‘Mambo Koyama’ and ‘Our Song’ plus half-a-dozen familiar standards and Paul Chambers’ ‘Whims Of Chambers’. By no stretch of the imagination is this a half-hearted “And-tonight-Matthew-I'mgoing-to-be-Art-Pepper” cop out, but a genuine celebratory affair that does credit to all those involved and Art Pepper's memory.