He began his career in the 1940s, playing with Benny Carter and Stan Kenton (1946-52). By the 1950s Pepper was recognized as one of the leading alto saxophonists in jazz, epitomized by his 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 associated with Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. Pepper was a member of Buddy Rich's Big Band from 1968 to 1969, and in 1977 and 1978 made two well received tours of Japan.
Perhaps most famous for his recurring legal transgressions, stemming from his addiction to heroin, Pepper had several memorable and productive "comebacks" throughout his career. 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 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 with Warne Marsh.
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. 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 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 criminal subcultures of mid-20th century California. The documentary film Art Pepper: Notes from a Jazz Survivor, available on DVD, devotes much space to music from one of his late groups featuring pianist Milcho Leviev. There is also an interview with Laurie Pepper available on NPR.
IMAGINATION
Art Pepper Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can you tell me what you see
There's a thousand voices whispering
Songs and you're the melody
So I imagine my heart with you
See what imagination can do
It's not hard to conceive
Many, many days our shadows passed
Seeing visions of a new bright horizon
Set the morning light
And that morning light is you
So I imagine my heart with you
See what imagination can do
It's not hard to conceive
love ecstasy imagining you, imagining me
The beauty we both can see
You're the dream I prayed would come along
To make my fantasy
Day and night you live inside my heart
You're the flame of love to me
The song "Imagination" by Art Pepper is a beautiful ballad that speaks of the magic of love and imagination. The lyrics are poetic and romantic, painting vivid images of love and desire. The song is about a person who is deeply in love with someone, but who is unsure if that love is reciprocated. They turn to a magic mirror to seek guidance, hoping that it will reveal to them what their heart already knows.
The opening lines, "Magic mirror come and search my heart, can you tell me what you see?" are an invocation to the magical powers of the mirror. The person is entrusting their heart to the mirror, hoping that it will reveal the truth of their feelings. The mirror is a symbol of self-reflection and introspection, and the person is asking it to show them the depths of their emotions.
The next lines, "There's a thousand voices whispering, songs and you're the melody" speak of the overwhelming emotions that the person is feeling. They are surrounded by a chorus of voices, but the voice of their beloved stands out above all others. The person is enchanted by this melody and longs to be with the one who is singing it.
The chorus, "So I imagine my heart with you, see what imagination can do, it's not hard to conceive, love ecstasy imagining you with me" expresses the power of imagination to bring two people together. The person is imagining a future with their beloved, and they are filled with joy and ecstasy at the thought. The lyrics also suggest that the person believes that their love is not one-sided, and that their beloved feels the same way.
Overall, "Imagination" is a beautiful song that speaks of the power of love and imagination to bring two people together. The lyrics are poetic and romantic, and the melody is hauntingly beautiful. It is a classic ballad that has stood the test of time and continues to inspire and move listeners to this day.
Line by Line Meaning
Magic mirror come and search my heart
Addressing the concept of introspection and personal reflection by personifying a "magic mirror" to analyze one's innermost desires and thoughts
Can you tell me what you see
Questioning the mirror's ability to provide insight and revelations into one's true self
There's a thousand voices whispering
Acknowledging the constant internal monologue of one's thoughts and emotions
Songs and you're the melody
Highlighting the importance of a significant other as the central piece to one's happiness and contentment
So I imagine my heart with you
Expressing the power of imagination and visualizing a future together with this person
See what imagination can do
Urging others to tap into their inner creativity and manifest their ideal reality
It's not hard to conceive
Emphasizing the attainability of love and happiness through simple and positive thoughts
Love ecstasy imagining you with me
Describing the intense joy and elation felt by picturing oneself with this person
Many, many days our shadows passed
Reflecting on a shared history and experience with this person
Seeing visions of a new bright horizon
Anticipating a promising and happy future with this person
Set the morning light
Symbolizing the start of a new day and chapter in life with this person
And that morning light is you
Identifying this person as the light and source of happiness in one's life
The beauty we both can see
Describing a shared appreciation for the beauty and positivity in life through this person
You're the dream I prayed would come along
Acknowledging the idealization and hopeful anticipation of a significant other to complete one's life
To make my fantasy
Describing this person as the missing piece to complete one's ideal world
Day and night you live inside my heart
Emphasizing the constant presence and significance of this person in one's life
You're the flame of love to me
Symbolizing the warmth and passion of the love one feels towards this person
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANKA WOLBERT, RONNIE MOERINGS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
freitag314
Possibly my favorite number on this wonderful album.
LACROIX Philippe
Grandiose ! Music at the highest level !
Ronald Chambers
Support Art's music.
shimenoかずよし
５０年代ジャズの総決算的な素晴らしい演奏にただ聞き入るだけ
elodiedazur
♥ Art Pepper (as), ♥ Red Garland (p), ♥ Paul Chambers (b), ♥ Philly Joe Jones (d). -> Rec. at Los Angeles, CA, on January 19, 1957.
Nick Riggio
awesome
坂巻洋
🌱🌸💙😃