Search - Art Pepper, Miles Rhythm Section Davis :: Gettin Together

"Gettin' Together" Has Got It Together

Michael B. Richman | Portland, Maine USA | 09/06/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"When Art Pepper made his classic "Meets The Rhythm Section" in 1957, the trio he used was the same one Miles Davis used in his first classic quintet -- Red Garland, Paul Chambers and Philly Joe Jones. To further capitalize on that album's success, Pepper cut a follow-up of sorts with "Gettin' Together" in 1960, again using Miles Davis' rhythm section. The only difference was that in those three years, two of the members of the Miles Davis group had changed. While Chambers still handled bass duties, Wynton Kelly had replaced Garland on piano and Jimmy Cobb, not Philly Joe, was on drums. To mix things up a little, Pepper has also added Conte Candoli on trumpet to the frontline. As with "Meets the Rhythm Section," the material on "Gettin' Together" is mostly standards -- "The Way You Look Tonight," Monk's "Rhythm-A-Ning," "Softly As In A Morning Sunrise" -- however, Chambers' original "Whims of Chambers" is the album's best track. While it doesn't quite measure up to "Meets the Rhythm Section," "Gettin' Together" has got it together."