Art Pepper

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**Arthur Edward Pepper Jr.** (September 1, 1925 – June 15, 1982) was an American alto saxophonist and clarinetist. A longtime figure in West coast jazz, Pepper came to prominence in Stan Kenton's big band. He was known for his emotionally charged performances and several stylistic shifts throughout his career, and was described by critic Scott Yanow as "the world's great altoist" at the time of his death.

## Early life

Art Pepper was born in Gardena, California, on September 1, 1925. His mother was a 14-year-old runaway; his father, a merchant seaman. Both were violent alcoholics, and when Art was still quite young he was sent to live with his paternal grandmother. He expressed early musical interest and talent, and he was given lessons. He began playing clarinet at nine, switched to alto saxophone at 13 and immediately began jamming on Central Avenue, the black
nightclub district of Los Angeles.

## Career

At the age of 17 he began playing professionally with Benny Carter and then became part of the Stan Kenton orchestra, touring with that band until he was drafted in 1943. After the war he returned to Los Angeles and joined the Kenton Innovations Orchestra. By the 1950s Pepper was recognized as one of the leading alto saxophonists in jazz, finishing second only to Charlie Parker as Best Alto Saxophonist in the *Down Beat* magazine Readers Poll of 1952. Along with Chet Baker, Gerry Mulligan and Shelly Manne, and perhaps due more to geography than playing style, Pepper is often associated with the musical movement known as West Coast jazz, as contrasted with the East Coast (or "hot") jazz of Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis. Some of Pepper's most famous albums from the 1950s are *Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section*, *Art Pepper + Eleven - Modern Jazz Classics*, *Gettin' Together*, and *Smack Up*. Representative music from this time appears on *The Aladdin Recordings* (three volumes), *The Early Show*, *The Late Show*, *The Complete Surf Ride*, and *The Way It Was!*, which features a session recorded with Warne Marsh.

His career was repeatedly interrupted by several prison stints stemming from his addiction to heroin, but Pepper managed to have several memorable and productive "comebacks". Remarkably, his substance abuse and legal travails did not affect the quality of his recordings, which maintained a high level of musicianship throughout his career until his death in 1982.

His last comeback saw Pepper, who had started his career in Stan Kenton's big band, becoming a member of Buddy Rich's Big Band from 1968 to 1969. During the mid-1970s and early 1980s he toured Europe and Japan with his own groups and recorded dozens of albums, mostly for Fantasy Records.

## Personal life

Pepper lived for many years in the hills of Echo Park, in Los Angeles. He had become a heroin addict in the 1940s, and his career was interrupted by drug-related prison sentences in 1954–56, 1960–61, 1961–64 and 1964–65; the final two sentences were served in San Quentin. While in San Quentin he played in an ensemble with saxophonist Frank Morgan. In the late 1960s Pepper spent time in Synanon, a drug rehabilitation group.

After beginning methadone therapy in the mid-1970s, Art had a musical comeback and recorded a series of albums including *Living Legend*, *Art Pepper Today*, *Among Friends*, and *Live in Japan: Vol. 2*.

His autobiography, *Straight Life* (1980, co-written with his third wife Laurie Pepper), discusses the jazz music world, as well as drug and criminal subcultures of mid-20th century California. Soon after the publication of this book, the director Don McGlynn released the documentary film *Art Pepper: Notes from a Jazz Survivor*, discussing his life and featuring interviews with both Art and his wife Laurie, as well as footage from a live performance in Malibu jazz club. Laurie Pepper also released an interview to NPR.

Pepper died of a stroke in Los Angeles on June 15, 1982, aged 56. He is interred in the Abbey of the Psalms Mausoleum in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Hollywood.

## Discography

 File:Stan Kenton, Eddie Safranski, Shelly Manne, Chico Alvarez, Ray Wetzel, Harry Betts, Bob Cooper, and Art Pepper, 1947 or 1948 (William P. Gottlieb 13171).jpg
### As leader

* 1951 *Popo* (Xanadu, 1980) with Shorty Rogers
* 1952 *The Early Show* (Xanadu, 1976; reissued as *A Night at the Surf Club, Vol. 1*)
* 1952 *The Late Show* (Xanadu, 1980; reissued as *A Night at the Surf Club, Vol. 2*)
* 1952-54 *Surf Ride* (Savoy)
* 1952-54 *Two Altos* (Regent) shared album with Sonny Red
* 1956 *The Return of Art Pepper* (Jazz: West)
* 1956 *Playboys* (Pacific Jazz) with Chet Baker - also released as *Picture of Heath*
* 1956 *The Art Pepper Quartet* (Tampa)
* 1956 *Art Pepper with Warne Marsh* (Contemporary)
* 1957 *Collections* (Intro) with Red Norvo, Joe Morello and Gerry Wiggins
* 1956-57 *Modern Art* (Intro)
* 1957 *Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section* (Contemporary)
* 1957 *Mucho Calor* (Andex) with Conte Candoli, Bill Perkins, Russ Freeman, Ben Tucker, Chuck Flores, Jack Costanzo and Mike Pacheko
* 1959 *Art Pepper + Eleven - Modern Jazz Classics* (Contemporary)
* 1960 *Gettin' Together* (Contemporary)
* 1960 *Smack Up* (Contemporary)
* 1960 *Intensity* (Contemporary)
* 1964 *Art Pepper Quartet in San Francisco* (1964) [live] (Fresh Sound)
* 1968 *Art Pepper Quintet : Live at Donte's 1968* (1968) [live] (Fresh Sound)
* 1975 *Garden State Jam Sessions* [live] (Lone Hill Jazz)
* 1975 *I'll Remember April : Live at Foothill College* (Storyville)
* 1975 *Living Legend* (Contemporary)
* 1976 *The Trip* (Contemporary)
* 1977 *A Night in Tunisia* [live] (Storyville)
* 1977 *Tokyo Debut* [live] (Galaxy) - also released as *First Live in Japan*
* 1977 *No Limit* (Contemporary)
* 1977 *Thursday Night at the Village Vanguard* [live] (Contemporary)
* 1977 *Friday Night at the Village Vanguard* [live] (Contemporary)
* 1977 *Saturday Night at the Village Vanguard* [live] (Contemporary)
* 1977 *More for Les at the Village Vanguard* [live] (Contemporary)
* 1977 *San Francisco Samba* [live] (Contemporary)
* 1978 *Live in Japan, Vol. 1: Ophelia* (Storyville)
* 1978 *Live in Japan, Vol. 2* (Storyville)
* 1978 *Among Friends* (Interplay)
* 1978 *Art Pepper Today* (Galaxy)
* 1979 *New York Album* (Galaxy) - released 1985
* 1979 *So in Love* (Artists House)
* 1979 *Artworks* (Galaxy) - released 1984
* 1979 *Stardust* (Victor [Japan]) - released 1985
* 1979 *Tokyo Encore* [live] (Dreyfus)
* 1979 *Landscape* [live] (Galaxy)
* 1979 *Besame Mucho* [live] (Galaxy)
* 1979 *Straight Life* (Galaxy)
* 1980 *Winter Moon* (Galaxy)
* 1980 *One September Afternoon* (Galaxy)
* 1980 *Blues for the Fisherman* with Milcho Leviev Live at Ronnie Scott's London. (TAA/Mole)
* 1981 *Art Pepper with Duke Jordan in Copenhagen 1981* [live] (Galaxy) with Duke Jordan
* 1981 *Roadgame* [live] (Galaxy)
* 1981 *Art Lives* [live] (Galaxy)
* 1981 *APQ* [live] (Galaxy)
* 1981 *Arthur's Blues* [live] (Galaxy)
* 1981 *Art 'n' Zoot* [live] (Pablo) with Zoot Sims - released 1995
* 1982 *Darn That Dream* (Real Time)
* 1982 *Tête-à-Tête* (Galaxy) with George Cables
* 1982 *Goin' Home* (Galaxy) with George Cables
* 1991 *Art in L.A.* (WestWind) - 2-CD set of two different sessions in 1957 and 1960.
* 2006 *Summer Knows* (Absord) - Japanese release from earlier sessions
* 2006-12 *Unreleased Art*, vols. 1–6. (Widow's Taste)

**With Chet Baker**

* *The Route* (Pacific Jazz, 1956)
* *Chet Baker Big Band* (Pacific Jazz, 1956)
* *Playboys* (Pacific Jazz, 1956)

**With Jerry Fielding**

* *The Gauntlet* (Soundtrack) (Warner Bros., 1977)

**With Jack Nitzsche**

* *Heart Beat* (Soundtrack) (Capitol, 1980)

### As a sideman

* 1940–54 *The Kenton Era* (with Stan Kenton – Capitol
* 1943–47 *Stan Kenton's Milestones* (with Stan Kenton) – Capitol
* 1944–47 *Stan Kenton Classics* (with Stan Kenton) – Capitol
* 1947 *A Presentation of Progressive Jazz*, *Encores* (with Stan Kenton) – Capitol
* 1950 *Innovations in Modern Music*, *Stan Kenton Presents* (with Stan Kenton) – Capitol
* 1950–51 *The Innovations Orchestra* (with Stan Kenton) Capitol, 1950–51 [1997]
* 1951 *Modern Sounds* (with Shorty Rogers) - Capitol
* 1953 *Popular Favorites by Stan Kenton*, *This Modern World* (with Stan Kenton) – Capitol
* 1953 *The West Coast Sound* (with Shelly Manne & His Men) – Contemporary
* 1953 *Shorty Rogers and His Giants* and *Cool and Crazy* (with Shorty Rogers) – RCA Victor
* 1956 *Hoagy Sings Carmichael* (with Hoagy Carmichael) – Pacific Jazz
* 1956 *The Marty Paich Quartet featuring Art Pepper* (with Marty Paich) – Tampa/VSOP
* 1959 *Mr. Easy* (with Jesse Belvin) – RCA
* 1959 *Lady Lonely* (with Toni Harper) – RCA
* 1959 *Herb Ellis Meets Jimmy Giuffre* (with Herb Ellis and Jimmy Giuffre) – Verve
* 1959 *Some Like It Hot* (with Barney Kessel) – Contemporary
* 1960 *The Subterraneans* (Soundtrack) (with André Previn) – MGM
* 1960 *The Swingin' Nutcracker* (Shorty Rogers) RCA Victor
* 1960 *Night Mood* (with Toni Harper) – RCA
* 1968 *Mercy, Mercy* (with Buddy Rich) – Pacific Jazz
* 1976 *On the Road* (Art Farmer) – Contemporary
* 1979 *California Hard* (with Dolo Coker) Xanadu
* 1978: *Birds and Ballads* (Johnny Griffin)
* 1979 *Very R.A.R.E.* (with Elvin Jones) Trio (Japan)
* 1980 *Blues for the Fisherman* (with Milcho Leviev) – [Live] Mole
* 1980 *True Blues* (with Milcho Leviev) – [Live] Mole
* 1981 *Mistral* (with Freddie Hubbard)
* 1982 *Richie Cole and... Return to Alto Acres* (with Richie Cole) – Palo Alto

## Transcriptions

**Published transcriptions:**

* *Jazz Styles and Analysis: Alto Sax* by Harry Miedema. Chicago, Fifth Printing, Feb . 1979. Includes *Broadway*.
* *Straight Life: the Story of Art Pepper* by Art Pepper and Laurie Pepper. New York and London, 1979. ISBN: 0-02-871820-8. Includes the head of *Straight Life*.
* *Jazz 2: Sax Alto*. Transcribed by John Robert Brown. International Music Publications, Woodford Green, Essex, 1986. ISBN: 0-86359-408-5. Includes '*Round Midnight*.
* *The Genius of Art Pepper*. Foreword by Laurie Pepper. North Sydney, Warner/Chappell Music, 1987. ISBN: 1-86362-012-5. Includes: *Arthur's Blues*; *Blues for Blanche*; *Funny Blues*; *Landscape*; *Make a List Make a Wish*; *Mambo de la Pinta*; *Mambo Koyama*; Mr *Big Falls his J.G. Hand*; *Our Song*; *Road Game*; *September Song*; *Tete a Tete*. All transcriptions include parts for Alto and Rhythm; *Funny Blues* also has a part for Trumpet.
* *Masters of the Alto Saxophone Play The Blues. Jazz Alto Solos.* Transcribed by Trent Kynaston and Jonathan Ball. Corybant Productions, 1990. Includes *True Blues*.
* *The Art Pepper Collection*. Foreword by Jeff Sultanof. Milwaukee, Hal Leonard, 1995. ISBN: 0-7935-4007-0. Includes: *Art's Oregano*; *Diane*; *Landscape*; *Las Cuevas de Mario*; *Make a List (Make a Wish)*; *Mr. Big Falls his J.G. Hand*; *Ophelia*; *Pepper Returns*; *Sometime*; *Straight Life*; *Surf Ride*(I); *Surf Ride*(II); *That's Love*; *The Trip*; *Waltz Me Blues*.
* *West Coast Jazz Saxophone Solos* transcribed and edited by Robert A. Luckey, Ph.D. Features 15 recorded solos from 1952–1961, including five solos by Art Pepper. Olympia Music Publishing, 1996. ISBN: 0-9667047-1-1.

**Transcriptions available on the Internet:**

* Anthropology
* Birk's Works
* Groovin' High
* Red Pepper Blues
* Star Eyes
* The Way You Look Tonight
* Too Close For Comfort
* What Is This Thing Called Love?
* You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To

## Compositions

Pepper's most famous composition is probably "Straight Life". Composed long before the autobiography of the same title was published, it features the jagged lines he typically played and was typically played at a breakneck tempo. It was recorded numerous times by Pepper, both in his "early" period and his "later" years. Perhaps the most famous version was included on the 1957 *Art Pepper Meets The Rhythm Section*.[*citation needed*]

His other compositions include: "The Trip", "Red Car", "Gettin' Together", "Ol' Croix", "Tynan Time", "Minor Yours", "Diane", "Blues at Twilight", "Bijou the Poodle", "Pepper Pot", "Val's Pal", "Chili Pepper", "Art's Opus", "Brown Gold", "Zenobia", "Angel Wings", "Junior Cat", "Pepper Steak", "Straight Life", "Tenor Blooz", "Walkin' Out Blues", "Patricia", "Five More", "Minority", "Mambo de la Pinta", "Surf Ride", "Las Cuevas De Mario", "Our Song", "Among Friends", "That's Love", "Waltz Me Blues", "Labyrinth", "Make A List", "Pepper Returns", "True Blues", "Landscape", "Miss Who", "Mambo Koyama", "Ophelia", "Lost Life", "Dynaflow" with Stan Kenton and "Funny Blues".

## Bibliography

A more extensive bibliography is issued by the Jazzinstitut Darmstadt

* 1956 *Art Pepper... Tells the Tragic Role Narcotics Played in Blighting His Career and Life* by John Tynan. *Downbeat*, September 19, 1956, p. 16.
* 1957 *Art Pepper Quartet* by John Tynan. *Downbeat*, May 16, 1957, p. 34.
* 1960 *Art Pepper: Profile of a Comeback* by J. McKinney. *Metronome*, lxxvii, September 1960, p. 26.
* 1960 *The Return of Art Pepper* by John Tynan. *Downbeat*, xxvii/8, 1960, p. 17.
* 1960 *End of the Road* by John Tynan. *Downbeat*, xxvii/25, 1960, p. 13.
* 1964 *Art Pepper's not the Same* by John Tynan. *Downbeat*, xxxi/22, 1964, p. 18.
* 1965 *"Jazz Discographies Unlimited" Presents "Art Pepper". A Complete Discography Compiled by Ernie Edwards, Jr.* Ernie Edwards Jr. et al. Jazz Discographies Unlimited, Spotlight Series, Vol. 4. Oct . 1965. 22pp.
* 1973 *Art Pepper: 'I'm Here to Stay!'* by C. Marra. *Downbeat*, xl/4, 1973, p. 16.
* 1975 *Pepper's Painful Road to Pure Art* by L. Underwood. *Downbeat*, xlii/11, 1975, p. 16.
* 1979 *Straight Life: the Story of Art Pepper* by Art Pepper and Laurie Pepper. New York and London, 1979. ISBN: 0-02-871820-8. Includes a discography.
* 1979 *Art Pepper: Rewards of the Straight Life* by P. Welding. *Downbeat*, xlvi/18, 1979, p. 16.
* 1979 *The Contemporary Art of Pepper* by Chris Sheridan. *Jazz Journal International*, Vol. 32, No. 9, September 1979, p. 9.
* 1979 *The evolution of an individualist*; Interview with Les Tomkins.
* 1980 *Art Pepper*. *Swing Journal*, xxxiv/1, 1980, p. 162.
* 1980 *At Ronnie's*; Interview with Les Tomkins.
* 1980 *A rich past, and a bright future*; Interview with Les Tomkins.
* 1981 New Fields Still to Conquer; Interview with Les Tomkins.
* 1981 *The Whiteness of the Wail* by Gary Giddins, in *Riding on a Blue Note*. New York, O.U.P., 1981, pp. 252–257. (An article originally published in July 1977.)
* 1986 *Art Pepper: I Want to Play so Bad* by David Nicholson Pepperell. *Wire Magazine*, Issue 28, June 1986, pp. 26–31.
* 1986 *Art Pepper, 1926-1982* by Gary Giddins, in *Rhythm-a-ning: Jazz Tradition and Innovation in the 80s*. New York, O.U.P., 1986, pp. 106–108. (An article originally published in June 1982.)
* 1992 *Straight Life* by Ted Gioia, in *West Coast Jazz: Modern Jazz in California, 1945-1960*. New York and Oxford, O.U.P., 1992, pp. 283–307 (Chapter Fourteen). ISBN: 0-19-508916-2.
* 2000 *The Art Pepper Companion: Writings on a Jazz Original* by Todd Selbert. Cooper Square Press, 2000. ISBN: 978-0-8154-1067-6.
* 2014\* ART: Why I Stuck with a Junkie Jazzman" by Laurie Pepper. Arthur Pepper Music Corporation ISBN: 978-1494297572
* 2014\* The Tale of the Tape by Lili Anolik. Harper's Magazine

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Slonimsky, Nicolas; Theodore Baker (1992). *Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians, Eighth Edition*. New York, New York: Schirmer Books.
2. ↑ Yannow, Scott. Art Pepper Biography from Allmusic.com, accessed 12 September 2016
3. ↑ Dupuis, Robert. "Art Pepper." *Contemporary Musicians: Profiles of the People in Music.* Vol. 18. Detroit, MI: Gale Research, 1997. 164-67. Print.
4. ↑ "Frank Morgan On Piano Jazz." Interview by Marian McPartland. *NPR Music.* N.p., 30 May 2008. Web. 16 Jan. 2014. <http://www.npr.org/2011/07/01/15126693/frank-morgan-on-piano-jazz>
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 *Straight Life: The Story Of Art Pepper* by Art Pepper and Laurie Pepper, Da Capo Press (reprint of original 1979 book published by Schirmer Books, a division of MacMillan Publishing).
6. ↑ See the New York Times review of the movie.
7. ↑ Rhythm-a-ning: jazz tradition and innovation in the '80s By Gary Giddins. Da Capo Press. p. 106

## External links

* Art Pepper at Find a Grave
* *Straight Life* – The Stories of Art Pepper
* The Art Pepper Discography Project
* NPR Interview With Laurie Pepper
* MikeL's Unofficial Art Pepper website
* Allmusic