We've already outlined a general history of jazz by strolling down the many highways and byways of its different styles during the first fifty years of its life; now we're going to propose another approach to this music, the most popular and creative of the 20th century, and incidentally, one that's still continuing to develop, though in a different manner. We'll be offering a chronological approach to the life and music of some great jazzmen. There are already several anthologies and compilations in this world to do with jazz and those who are part of it, but we wanted to take a different approach and go one step further if possible. We'll be following our selected artists into every corner of their life, their critical and popular successes, anything unusual or innovatory they introduced, all in their order of composition; another "extra" with us will be the sound which will be cleaned and restored. So here goes. Jazz to listen to, accept, listen to again, appreciate, think about. For these are the high points of a musical story belonging to the 20th century that's still relevant fifty years later. Andre Francis (Jazz Characters creator)

Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Art Pepper (S. Rogers) Stan Kenton And His Innovations Orchestra 5'17
2. Popo (S. Rogers) Shorty Rogers And His Giants 3'00
3. Over The Rainbow (Harburg - Arlen) Shorty Rogers And His Giants 2'59
4. The Count On Rush Street (B. Russo) Shelly Manne And His Friends 3'07
5. Brown Gold (A. Pepper) Art Pepper Quartet 2'22
6. These Foolish Things (Link - Strachey - Marvell) Art Pepper Quartet 2'38
7. Surf Ride (A. Pepper) Art Pepper Quartet 2'50
8. Chili Pepper (A. Pepper) Art Pepper Quartet 2'56
9. Suzy The Poodle (A. Pepper) Art Pepper Quartet 3'09
10. Tickle Toe (L. Young) Art Pepper Quartet 2'50
11. You And The Night And The Music (Schwartz - Dietz ) Shelly Manne And His Men 3'06
12. Straight Life (A. Pepper) Art Pepper Quintet 2'48
13. What's New (Hassart - Burke) Art Pepper Quintet 3'25
14. Deep Purple (Parish - Robbins) Art Pepper Quintet 3'55
15. Art's Oregano (A. Pepper) Art Pepper Quintet 3'07
16. Nutmeg (A. Pepper) Art Pepper Quintet 3'10
17. Ol' Croix (A. Pepper) Art Pepper Quartet 4'27
18. Tynan Time (A. Pepper) Chet Baker Sextet 6'17
19. Little Girl (Henry - Hyde) Chet Baker Sextet 4'14
20. Marty's Blues (M. Paich) The Marty Paich Quartet 2'22
21. Abstract Art (M. Paich) The Marty Paich Quartet 2'53
22. You Go To My Head (Coots - Gillespie) Art Pepper Quintet 4'15

Disc 2:

1. Broadway (Woode - McRae - Bird) Art Pepper Quintet 4'58
2. Minority (G. Gryce) Art Pepper Quintet 4'16
3. Patricia (A. Pepper) Art Pepper Quartet 3'36
4. Diane (A. Pepper) The Art Pepper Quartet 3'32
5. What Is This Thing Called Love (C. Porter) Bill Perkins Quintet 5'30
6. Diane-A-Flow (A. Pepper) Bill Perkins Quintet 4'01
7. Blues Out (A. Pepper) Art Pepper Quartet 4'54
8. You're Driving Me Crazy (W. Donaldson) Joe Morello Sextet 5'06
9. Tenor Blooz (A. Pepper) Joe Morello Sextet 4'59
10. Cool Bunny (A. Pepper) Art Pepper Quartet 4'13
11. Straight Life (A. Pepper) Art Pepper Meets The Rhythm Section 3'58
12. Tin Tin Deo (C. Pozo) Art Pepper Meets The Rhythm Section 7'42
13. Bunny (S. Rogers) Art Pepper Nine 3'45
14. Popo (S. Rogers) Art Pepper Nine 7'01
15. Powder Puff (S. Rogers) Art Pepper Nine 3'23
16. Diablo's Dance (S. Rogers) Art Pepper Nine 3'28