Art Pepper Biography and Music Guide Video

Classic Rock and Roots

Arthur Edward Pepper Jr. (September 1, 1925 – June 15, 1982) was an American jazz musician, most known 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.

Transcript

00:00Art Pepper was born in Gardena, California in 1925. As a child, he studied clarinet and alto saxophone.

00:15The alto saxophone would ultimately become the instrument with which he would gain fame.

00:21He started his musical career in the 1940s with Gus Arnheim, Benny Carter, and Lee Young.

00:32He then joined Stan Kenton, with whom he stayed for a year.

00:37In the early 1950s, Pepper formed his own quartet and shortly thereafter developed a dependence on drugs,

00:47which would culminate in a two-year jail term.

00:51After his release in August 1954, he recorded for several labels before starting a lengthy stint with contemporary records.

01:04Pepper's struggles with drug addiction would continually resurface, and with them came trouble with the law.

01:14He was frequently jailed at San Quentin prison throughout the early 1960s.

01:21In 1966, he would be released from prison, but recidivism would continue to be an issue for much of his life.

01:32Pepper died in 1982 in Los Angeles.

01:37Pepper's best cool jazz work can be found on a string of albums released in the 1950s.

01:44Art Pepper meets the rhythm section from 1957.

01:51Modern Art, also from 1957.

01:56As well as The Art of Pepper, also from 1957.

02:04Other Art Pepper albums of note include

02:10Gettin' Together, from 1960.

02:14Smack Up, from 1960.

02:17Living Legend, from 1976.

02:21Artworks, also from 1976.

02:26Straight Life, from 1979.

02:31Winter Moon, from 1980.

02:35Friday Night at the Village Vanguard, from 1985.

02:40Thursday Night at the Village Vanguard, from 1985.

02:45A Saturday Night at the Village Vanguard, from 1985.

02:52Rachael Amazon, this date of the Village Vanguard was late for 1980.

02:58And it's currently the best of my vorstellen.

03:02urch, this date of Christmas.

03:04But if I have any time to make any commitments theoretically,

03:07it may be time to see them, because if we don't see them with a taxevilist,

03:10there will be, you know, in these new upcoming comments.

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