Art Pepper

Arthur Edward Pepper Jr. (September 1, 1925 – June 15, 1982) was an American jazz musician, mostly as an alto saxophonist. He occasionally performed and recorded on tenor saxophone, clarinet (his first instrument) and bass clarinet. Active primarily in West Coast jazz, Pepper first 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 having "attained his goal of becoming the world's greatest altoist" at the time of his death in 1982.

Early life Art Pepper was born in Gardena, California, United States. His mother was a 14-year-old runaway; his father, a merchant seaman. Both were violent alcoholics, and when Pepper 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 the age of 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, Pepper 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. In the late 1960s, Pepper spent time in Synanon, a rehabilitation program that turned out to be a cult.

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. Among the many anecdotes shared from his life, Pepper describes a sexual encounter with a woman while stationed in London during the Second World War that T.J. English says would probably be regarded as rape though the word is not used by Pepper. Soon after the publication of this book, 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 a 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

As leader Surf Ride (Savoy, 1956) – recorded in 1952–54 Two Altos with Sonny Red (Regent, 1959) – recorded in 1952–54 The Return of Art Pepper with Jack Sheldon (Jazz West, 1956) Playboys with Chet Baker and Phil Urso (Pacific Jazz, 1956) – reissued as Picture of Heath The Art Pepper Quartet (Tampa, 1957) – recorded in 1956 Collections with Red Norvo, Joe Morello and Gerry Wiggins (Intro, 1957) Modern Art (Intro, 1957) – recorded in 1956–57 Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section (Contemporary, 1957) Art Pepper + Eleven – Modern Jazz Classics (Contemporary, 1959) Gettin' Together with Conte Candoli (Contemporary, 1960) Smack Up with Jack Sheldon (Contemporary, 1960) Intensity (Contemporary, 1963) – recorded in 1960 Art Pepper Quartet in San Francisco (Fresh Sound, 1964) – live Art Pepper Quintet : Live at Donte's 1968 with Joe Romano (Fresh Sound, 1968) – live The Art of Pepper (Onyx, 1974) – recorded in 1957 Garden State Jam Sessions Bootleg (Lone Hill Jazz, 1975) – live I'll Remember April : Live at Foothill College (Storyville, 1975) Living Legend (Contemporary, 1975) The Trip (Contemporary, 1976) A Night in Tunisia (Storyville, 1977) – live Tokyo Debut (Galaxy, 1977) – live; also released as First Live in Japan No Limit (Contemporary, 1977) Thursday Night at the Village Vanguard (Contemporary, 1977) – live Friday Night at the Village Vanguard (Contemporary, 1977) – live Saturday Night at the Village Vanguard (Contemporary, 1977) – live More for Les at the Village Vanguard (Contemporary, 1977) – live Live in Japan, Vol. 1: Ophelia (Storyville, 1978) Live in Japan, Vol. 2 (Storyville, 1978) Among Friends (Interplay, 1978) Art Pepper Today (Galaxy, 1978) Landscape (Galaxy, 1979) – live Besame Mucho (Galaxy, 1979) – live Straight Life (Galaxy, 1979) So in Love (Artists House, 1980) – recorded in 1979 One September Afternoon (Galaxy, 1980) Winter Moon with Howard Roberts (Galaxy, 1981) – recorded in 1980 Roadgame (Galaxy, 1982) – live recorded in 1981 Goin' Home with George Cables (Galaxy, 1982) Darn That Dream (Real Time, 1982) Art Lives (Galaxy, 1983) – live recorded in 1981 Tête-à-Tête with George Cables (Galaxy, 1983) – recorded in 1982 Artworks (Galaxy, 1984) – recorded in 1979 APQ (Galaxy, 1984) – live recorded in 1981 New York Album (Galaxy, 1985) – recorded in 1979 Stardust (Victor (Japan), 1985) – recorded in 1979 Art Pepper with Warne Marsh (Contemporary, 1986) – recorded in 1956; reissued tracks from The Way It Was! (1972) Tokyo Encore (Dreyfus, 1991) – live recorded in 1979 Arthur's Blues (Galaxy, 1991) – live recorded in 1981 Art in L.A. (WestWind, 1991)[2CD] – recorded in 1957–60 Live in Japan: The Summer Knows (Absord (Japan), 1994) – live Art 'n' Zoot with Zoot Sims (Pablo, 1995) – live recorded in 1981 Art Pepper with Duke Jordan in Copenhagen 1981 with Duke Jordan (Galaxy, 1996) – live recorded in 1981 San Francisco Samba (Contemporary, 1997) – live recorded in 1977 Unreleased Art, Vol. 1–11 (Widow's Taste, 2006–) Art Pepper – An Afternoon in Norway: The Kongsberg Concert (Elemental Music, 2025) – recorded June 29, 1980

As sideman

With Chet Baker The Route with Richie Kamuca (Pacific Jazz, 1956) Chet Baker Big Band (Pacific Jazz, 1956)

With Toni Harper Lady Lonely (RCA, 1959) Night Mood (RCA, 1960)

With Stan Kenton Stan Kenton's Milestones (Capitol, 1950) – recorded in 1943–47 Stan Kenton Classics (Capitol, 1952) – recorded in 1944–47 Encores (Capitol, 1947) A Presentation of Progressive Jazz (Capitol, 1947) Innovations in Modern Music (Capitol, 1950) Stan Kenton Presents (Capitol, 1950) Popular Favorites by Stan Kenton (Capitol, 1953) This Modern World (Capitol, 1953) The Kenton Era (Capitol, 1955) – recorded in 1940–54 The Innovations Orchestra (Capitol, 1997) – recorded in 1950–51

With Milcho Leviev Blues for the Fisherman (Mole, 1980) – live True Blues (Mole, 1980) – live

With Shorty Rogers Modern Sounds (Capitol, 1952)[10"] – recorded in 1951 Shorty Rogers and His Giants (RCA Victor, 1953)[10"] Cool and Crazy (RCA Victor, 1953)[10"] The Swingin' Nutcracker (RCA Victor, 1960) Popo (Xanadu, 1980) – recorded in 1951

With others Jesse Belvin, Mr. Easy (RCA, 1960) – recorded in 1959 Hoagy Carmichael, Hoagy Sings Carmichael (Pacific Jazz, 1957) – recorded in 1956 Dolo Coker, California Hard with Blue Mitchell (Xanadu, 1977) – recorded in 1976 Richie Cole, Return to Alto Acres (Palo Alto, 1982) Conte Candoli, Mucho Calor with Bill Perkins, Russ Freeman, Ben Tucker, Chuck Flores, Jack Costanzo and Mike Pacheko (Andex/VSOP, 1957) Herb Ellis and Jimmy Giuffre, Herb Ellis Meets Jimmy Giuffre (Verve, 1959) Art Farmer, On the Road (Contemporary, 1976) Jerry Fielding, The Gauntlet (Warner Bros., 1978) – Soundtrack recorded in 1977 Johnny Griffin, Birds and Ballads (Galaxy, 1978) Freddie Hubbard, Mistral (East World, 1981) – recorded in 1980 Elvin Jones, Very R.A.R.E. (Trio (Japan), 1980) – recorded in 1979 Barney Kessel, Some Like It Hot (Contemporary, 1959) Shelly Manne, The West Coast Sound (Contemporary, 1956) – recorded in 1953–55 Jack Nitzsche, Heart Beat (Capitol, 1980) – Soundtrack Anita O'Day, Cool Heat (Verve, 1959) Marty Paich, The Marty Paich Quartet featuring Art Pepper (Tampa/VSOP, 1956) André Previn, The Subterraneans (MGM, 1960) – soundtrack Buddy Rich Big Band, Mercy, Mercy (Pacific Jazz, 1968) – live

Transcriptions Published transcriptions: Jazz Styles and Analysis: Alto Sax by Harry Miedema. Chicago, Fifth Printing, February 1979. Includes Broadway. Straight Life: the Story of Art Pepper by Art Pepper and Laurie Pepper. New York and London, 1979. . Includes the head of Straight Life. Jazz 2: Sax Alto. Transcribed by John Robert Brown. International Music Publications, Woodford Green, Essex, 1986. . Includes 'Round Midnight. The Genius of Art Pepper. Foreword by Laurie Pepper. North Sydney, Warner/Chappell Music, 1987. . 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. . 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 to 1961, including five solos by Art Pepper. Olympia Music Publishing, 1996. .

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"