- Art Pepper
Infobox musical artist
Name = Art Pepper
Img_capt = Art Pepper in 1979, Los Angeles; photo by Nathan Callahan
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Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
Birth_name = Arthur Edward Pepper, Jr.
Alias =
Born = Birth date|1925|9|1
Died = death date and age|1982|6|15|1925|9|1
Origin = flagicon|USAGardena, California , USA
Instrument =Alto Saxophone Tenor Saxophone Clarinet
Voice_type =
Genre =Cool jazz West Coast jazz Bop Mainstream jazz Hard bop Post-bop
Occupation =Saxophonist
Years_active =
Label =
Associated_acts =Stan Kenton Shorty Rogers
URL =
Current_members =
Past_members =
Notable_instruments =Art Pepper (b.
September 1 1925 ,Gardena, California – d.June 15 ,1982 ,Los Angeles, California ), [cite book | last = Slonimsky | first = Nicolas | authorlink = | coauthors = Theodore Baker | title = Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians, Eighth Edition | publisher = Schirmer Books | date = 1992 | location = New York, New York | pages = | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = ] born Arthur Edward Pepper, Jr., was an Americanalto saxophonist .Career
He began his career in the 1940s, playing with
Benny Carter andStan Kenton (1946-52). [cite book | last = Slonimsky | first = Nicolas | authorlink = | coauthors = Theodore Baker | title = Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians, Eighth Edition | publisher = Schirmer Books | date = 1992 | location = New York, New York | pages = | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = ] By the 1950s Pepper was recognized as one of the leading alto saxophonists in jazz, epitomized by his finishing second only toCharlie Parker as Best Alto Saxophonist in the Downbeat Magazine Readers Poll of 1952. Along withChet Baker ,Gerry Mulligan andShelly Manne , and perhaps due more to geography than playing style, Pepper is often associated with the musical movement known asWest Coast jazz , as contrasted with the East Coast (or "hot") jazz associated with Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. Pepper was a member of Buddy Rich's Big Band from 1968-69, and in 1977 and 1978 made two well received tours of Japan. [cite book | last = Slonimsky | first = Nicolas | authorlink = | coauthors = Theodore Baker | title = Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians, Eighth Edition | publisher = Schirmer Books | date = 1992 | location = New York, New York | pages = | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = ]Perhaps most famous for his recurring legal transgressions, stemming from his addiction to heroin, Pepper had several memorable and productive "comebacks" throughout his career. Inexplicably, 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 from a brain hemorrhage.
Examples of Pepper's most famous albums from this period 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 withWarne Marsh .Personal life
Pepper lived for many years in the hills of
Echo Park , in Los Angeles. He had become aheroin addict in the 1940s, and his career was interrupted by drug-relatedprison sentences from 1954-56; 1960-61; 1961-64 and 1964-65; the final two sentences in San Quentin. [cite book | last = Slonimsky | first = Nicolas | authorlink = | coauthors = Theodore Baker | title = Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians, Eighth Edition | publisher = Schirmer Books | date = 1992 | location = New York, New York | pages = | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = ] In the late 1960s Pepper spent time inSynanon , adrug rehabilitation group.After beginning
methadone therapy in the mid-1970s, Art had a musical comeback and recorded a series of highly acclaimed albums. Albums from this later period include "Living Legend", "Art Pepper Today", "Among Friends", and "Live in Japan: Vol. 2".His
autobiography , "Straight Life" (1980) (transcribed by his third wife Laurie Pepper), is a unique exploration into the jazz music world, as well as drug and criminalsubculture s of mid-20th centuryCalifornia . Thedocumentary film "Art Pepper: Notes from a Jazz Survivor", available onDVD , devotes much space to music from one of his late groups featuring pianistMilcho Leviev . There is also an interview with Laurie Pepper available onNPR .Discography
* 1951 "Popo" - "w/"
Shorty Rogers (Xanadu Records )
* 1952 "The Early Show" (Xanadu Records )
* 1952 "The Late Show" (Xanadu Records )
* 1952 "Surf Ride" (Savoy)
* 1952 "A Night at the Surf Club, Vol. 1" [live] (EPM)
* 1952 "A Night at the Surf Club, Vol. 1" [live] (Xanadu)
* 1952 "A Night at the Surf Club, Vol. 2" [live] (EPM)
* 1952 "A Night at the Surf Club, Vol. 2" [live] (Xanadu)
* 1952 "Art Pepper: Sonny Redd" (Savoy)
* 1953 "Art Pepper Quartet: Volume 1" (Time Is)
* 1954 "Art Pepper Quintet" (Discovery)
* 1956 "Val's Pal" (VSOP)
* 1956 "The Art Pepper Quartet" (Tampa/OJC)
* 1956 "The Artistry of Pepper" (Pacific Jazz)
* 1957 "Show Time" Japanese Import
* 1957 "Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section " (Contemporary/OJC)
* 1957 "The Art of Pepper, Vol. 3" (Blue Note)
* 1957 "The Art of Pepper, Vol. 1" (VSOP)
* 1957 "The Art of Pepper, Vol. 2" (VSOP)
* 1957 "Mucho Calor (Much Heat)" (Andex/VSOP/TOFREC)
* 1958 "The Art Pepper: Red Norvo Sextet" (Score)
* 1959 "Art Pepper + Eleven - Modern Jazz Classics " (Contemporary/OJC)
* 1959 "Two Altos" (Savoy)
* 1960 "Gettin' Together " (Contemporary/OJC)
* 1960 "Smack Up " (Contemporary/OJC)
* 1960 "Intensity" (Contemporary/OJC)
* 1963 "Pepper/Manne" (Charlie Parker)
* 1964 "Art Pepper Quartet in San Francisco" (1964) [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/Original Jazz Classics)
* 1976 "The Trip" (Contemporary/OJC)
* 1977 "A Night in Tunisia" [live] (Storyville)
* 1977 "No Limit" (Contemporary/OJC)
* 1977 "Tokyo Debut" [live] (Galaxy)
* 1977 "Thursday Night at the Village Vanguard" [live] (Contemporary/OJC)
* 1977 "Friday Night at the Village Vanguard " [live] (Contemporary/OJC)
* 1977 "Saturday Night at the Village Vanguard" [live] (Contemporary/OJC)
* 1977 "More for Les: at the Village Vanguard Vol. 4" [live] (Contemporary/OJC)
* 1977 "San Francisco Samba: Live at Keystone Korner" (Contemporary)
* 1977 "The Gauntlet / Original Sound Track " (Warner Bros.)
* 1978 "Live in Japan, Vol. 1: Ophelia" (Storyville)
* 1978 "Live in Japan, Vol. 2" (Storyville)
* 1978 "Among Friends " (Discovery)
* 1978 "Art Pepper Today " (Original Jazz Classics)
* 1978 "Birds and Ballads" (Galaxy)
* 1979 "So in Love" (APO)
* 1979 "New York Album" (Original Jazz Classics)
* 1979 "Artworks" (Galaxy)
* 1979 "Tokyo Encore" [live] (Dreyfus)
* 1979 "Landscape" [live] (Galaxy/OJC)
* 1979 "Straight Life" (Galaxy/OJC)
* 1980 "Winter Moon" (Galaxy/OJC)
* 1980 "One September Afternoon " (Galaxy/OJC)
* 1981 "Art Pepper with Duke Jordan in Copenhagen 1981" [live] (Galaxy)
* 1981 "Art Lives" (Galaxy)
* 1981 "Roadgame" [live] (Galaxy/OJC)
* 1981 "Art 'N' Zoot" (WestWind)
* 1981 "Arthur's Blues" (Original Jazz Classics)
* 1982 "Goin' Home" (Original Jazz Classics)
* 1982 "Tête-à-Tête" (Galaxy/OJC)
* 1982 "Darn That Dream" (Real Time)
* 19?? "Art Pepper with Warne Marsh" (Victor (aka "The Way it Was!" Contemporary))
* 19?? "Summer Knows" (Absord)
* 19?? "Art in L.A." (WestWind)----
As a sideman:
* 1956 "Hoagy Sings Carmichael" Pacific Jazz (with
Hoagy Carmichael )
* 1956 "The Marty Paich Quartet featuring Art Pepper" Tampa/VSOP (withMarty Paich )
* 1968 "Mercy, Mercy" Pacific Jazz (withBuddy Rich )
* 1979 "California Hard "Xanadu Records (withDolo Coker )
* 1979 "Very R.A.R.E." Konnex Records (withElvin Jones )
* 1980 "Blues For The Fisherman" [Live] Mole (withMilcho Leviev )
* 1980 "True Blues" [Live] Mole (withMilcho Leviev )
* 1982 "Richie Cole And... Return to Alto Acres" Palo Alto (withRichie Cole )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 0028718208. Includes the head of "Straight Life".
* "Jazz 2: Sax Alto". Transcribed by John Robert Brown. International Music Publications, Woodford Green, Essex, 1986. ISBN 0863594085. Includes "'Round Midnight".
* "The Genius of Art Pepper". Foreword by Laurie Pepper. North Sydney, Warner/Chappell Music, 1987. ISBN 1863620125. 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 0793540070. 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 0966704711.Transcriptions available on the Internet:
* [http://pubcs.free.fr/mw_anthropolgy.pdf Anthropology]
* [http://chnani.club.fr/ejma/images/releves/birksworks1.pdf Birk's Works]
* [http://www.charlesmcneal.com/transcriptions/%5BGroovinHighAP%5D.pdf Groovin' High]
* [http://chnani.club.fr/ejma/pepperstareyes.html Star Eyes]
* [http://chnani.club.fr/ejma/toocloose.html Too Close For Comfort]
* [http://chnani.club.fr/ejma/images/releves/youdbe1.pdf You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To]Bibliography
*1956 "Art Pepper... Tells the Tragic Role Narcotics Played in Blighting His Career and Life" by John Tynan. "Downbeat", 19 September, 1956, p.16.
*1957 "Art Pepper Quartet" by John Tynan. "Downbeat", 16 May, 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 [http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=29 "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 0028718208. 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 [http://www.jazzprofessional.com/interviews/art%20pepper_1.htm "The evolution of an individualist"] ; Interview with Les Tomkins.
*1980 "Art Pepper". "Swing Journal", xxxiv/1, 1980, p.162.
*1980 [http://www.jazzprofessional.com/interviews/art%20pepper_2.htm "At Ronnie's"] ; Interview with Les Tomkins.
*1980 [http://www.jazzprofessional.com/interviews/art%20pepper_3.htm "A rich past, and a bright future"] ; Interview with Les Tomkins.
*1981 [http://www.jazzprofessional.com/interviews/art%20pepper_4.htm "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 80's". 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 0195089162.
*2000 "The Art Pepper Companion: Writings on a Jazz Original" by Todd Selbert. Cooper Square Press, 2000. ISBN 0815410670; ISBN-13 9780815410676.References
External links
* [http://www.jazzdisco.org/pepper/ The Art Pepper Discography Project]
* [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1124424 NPR Interview With Laurie Pepper]
* [http://home.ica.net/~blooms/ The Art Of Pepper]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwjifsHVqXE Art Pepper on YouTube]
* [http://www.vintners.net/~mikel/art_pepper/ MikeL's Unoffical Art Pepper website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/artpepper Art Pepper MySpace Tribute Site]
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