Intensity [Contemporary Records Acoustic Sounds Series] in Bloomington, MN

Intensity
was the final album of altoist
Art Pepper
's early period and was released when he was already serving a long prison sentence due to his addiction to heroin. Assisted by pianist
Dolo Coker
, bassist
Jimmy Bond
, and drummer
Frank Butler
,
Pepper
was just starting to show the influence of
John Coltrane
and
Ornette Coleman
in his style, freeing up his playing and displaying a greater intensity during his improvisations. Ironically,
sticks to swinging standards such as "I Can't Believe That You're in Love with Me," "Gone with the Wind," and "I Wished on the Moon" as points of departure on this interesting and largely enjoyable set. Excluding a 1973 recording with
Mike Vax
's big band, it would be 15 years before
led another record date in the studios. ~ [Some reissues have an additional song, "Fine Points."] Scott Yanow