by Scott Yanow
Altoist Art Pepper's final recordings resulted in two albums' worth of duets with pianist George Cables; the music was reissued in expanded form on Pepper's 16-CD Galaxy box set. Highlights of these relaxed but passionate encounters include &Over the Rainbow,& &Body and Soul,& &The Way You Look Tonight,& and &You Go to My Head.& Pepper never did decline on record, and although he died in June 1982 (just a month after the last of these duets), he is prime form throughout the emotional performances.