Originally reissued as part of the Promise Kept: The Complete Artist House Recordings boxed set, now available separately.

Producer John Snyder had always wanted to record Pepper and booked him into a week at the Village Vanguard in New York. At the time, Pepper was under contract to Contemporary Records and label head, Les Koenig, decided he would record the gigs, quashing any notion Snyder had of doing the same. However, Art promised Snyder that he’d record an album for Snyder’s label, Artists House, at some point down the road. Together they wound up making four.

Here again on vinyl, CD & Digital are the original albums drawn from these sessions, lovingly recreated in their original form, remastered by Grammy® winner Michael Graves and recut by Jeff Powell.

Stardust (originally issued in 1985) features Pepper’s takes on Hoagy Carmichael title track, Duke Ellington’s “In A Mellow Tone,” and more. The CD and Digital add six bonus performances from the sessions.

John and Art both kept their promises. John brought Art into the wider world; he put him on the road. Just as he said he would, he brought him to New York and to the Village Vanguard, got his picture in the papers, got him on the radio. From Art, John got his dearest wish. He made these recordings.

—Laurie Pepper

CD / LP / Digtial Track List:

1. My Friend John (Alternate A)
2. Tin Tin Deo
3. Stardust (Alternate A)
4. In A Mellow Tone (Take 2)

CD / Digital Only Bonus Tracks

5. Art’s Sweet Blues
6. But Beautiful (Take 1)
7. You Go To My Head (Alternate B)
8. Yesterdays (Take 3)
9. Stardust (Alternate B)
10. In A Mellow Tone (Take 1)