Art Pepper's widow Laurie's eleventh volume of archive material gives us an intimate snapshot of the great tenorist's Quartet live in Atlanta in May 1980 (Art and Laurie's brutally honest 1979 book Straight Life, had made Art an international star, allowing him to tour with his own quartet for the first time).

This latest release is dedicated to Milcho Leviev (1937-2019), a pianist of sensitivity, imagination, and humour (he would overplay deliberately at times, driving Pepper to genuine anger, and later commenting “I don't know why I did it”). Here, however, the two men trade competitively but [musically] fruitfully. The hypnotic Middle Eastern-flavoured ‘The Trip’ is a perfect vehicle for Milcho, who excels so much so that Art returns for a second solo “not to be outdone” as Laurie's sleeve note observes.

Wayne Peet's remastering of Laurie's cassette tape brings out Bob Magnusson's excellent sound, intonation, swing, and soloing. Carl Burnett listens, follows the dynamics of solos, and shows why he was Art's favourite drummer.

The original tunes epitomise Pepper's distinct early and late styles. Two great blues, ‘Blues for Blanche’ and ‘Untitled #34’ anchor the sets. ‘Landscape’ (inspired by the Japanese bullet train) is a very hip late Pepper line while ‘Straight Life’ roars along with Art showing phenomenal command; effortlessly stylish, swinging, and inventive at breakneck tempo.

More than once, Pepper's solos rise to such an emotional level that it seems a natural progression, not affectation, to go out into avant-garde multi-note flourishes. And then on the ballad ‘Patricia’, he is achingly beautiful and truly profound.

Even Art's various onstage announcements are a delight; obviously improvised and warming to various themes, they show what the music always proves, that he was a master communicator, rightly loved by his audience.