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Alvin Batiste was born in New Orleans in 1932, and is among the rare artists who have created a modern approach to improvising on the clarinet. "My dad played the clarinet," Alvin explained, "and was a boyhood friend of the great Edmond Hall as well as a fan of Benny Goodman. I wasn't that interested in learning the instrument when he bought one for me, until I heard Charlie Parker's recording of 'Now's the Time' at a friend's house. You could only find records like that in one or two stores in New Orleans at the time, and my reaction was, 'What was that?' I started practicing seriously at that point."

"Imp And Perry" is from "Late", a 1993 recording by Alvin Batiste (November 7, 1932 -- May 6, 2007). Batiste was an utterly modern jazz clarinetist born in New Orleans, Louisiana. He taught at his own jazz institute at Southern University in Baton Rouge. As a result of his devotion to teaching, Batiste's discography as a leader is limited. Several well-known musicians studied under Batiste while at Southern University. They include Branford Marsalis, Donald Harrison, Henry Butler, Charlie Singleton (Cameo), and Woodie Douglas (Spirit) among so many others.

The musicians on the "Late" album are: Alvin Batiste (clarinet); Wes Anderson (alto saxophone); Kenny Barron, Fred Sanders (piano); Rufus Reid, Elton Heron (bass); Herman Jackson (drums); Donald Edwards (congas).

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