Art Pepper (Arthur Edward Pepper Jr., Gardena, California, September 1, 192… Read Full Bio ↴Art Pepper (Arthur Edward Pepper Jr., Gardena, California, September 1, 1925 – Los Angeles, California, June 15, 1982), was an American alto saxophonist.
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.
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.
Mambo De La Pinta
Art Pepper Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Art Pepper:
'Round Midnight It begins to tell 'Round midnight, midnight I do pretty well…
A Foggy Day I was a stranger in the city Out of town were…
Abstract Art The Gods of Olympus have abandoned me I'm coming with that…
All Of Me You took my kisses and you took my love You taught…
Autumn Leaves The falling leaves drift by the window The autumn leaves of…
Begin the Beguine When they begin the beguine It brings back the sound of…
Bewitched She's a fool and don't I know it But a fool…
Bewitched Bothered And Bewildered She's a fool and don't I know it But a fool…
Blues In The Night My mama done tol' me When I was in knee pants My…
But Beautiful Love is funny or it's sad, Or it's quiet or…
Caravan Night and stars above that shine so bright The myst'ry…
Deep Purple Woo, Wo-o-oo-wo-wo, Wo-o-oo-wo-wo, Wo-o-oo-wo-wo When the…
Don't Blame Me Ever since the lucky night I found you I've hung around…
Donna Lee ZomberKronno Fight to be free in this battle Fight to live …
Don���t Blame Me Ever since the lucky night I found you I've hung around…
Everything Happens to Me Black cats creep across my path Until I'm almost mad I must…
For Freddie My mama done tol' me, When I was in knee…
Here's That Rainy Day Maybe I should have saved those left over dreams Funny, but…
How High the Moon Somewhere there's music How faint the tune Somewhere there's…
I Can't Believe That You're in Love With Me Yesterday you came my way, And when you smiled at me, In…
I Can't Give You Anything But Love Gee, but it's tough to be broke, kid. It's not a…
I Surrender Dear Pride, sad, splendid liar, Sworn enemy of love Kept my…
I'll Remember April This lovely day will lengthen into evening We'll sigh goodby…
I'm Gettin' Sentimental Over You Never thought I'd fall, But now I hear love call, I'm gett…
I'm Getting Sentimental Over You Never thought I'd fall, But now I hear love call, I'm gettin…
Imagination Magic mirror come and search my heart Can you tell me…
Isn't She Lovely Isn't she lovely Isn't she wonderful Isn't she precious L…
Just Friends Just friends, lovers no more Just friends, but not like befo…
Long Ago Long ago and far away I dreamed a dream one day And…
Long Ago and Far Away Long ago and far away I dreamed a dream one day And…
Lover Come Back To Me You went away I let you We broke the ties that bind I…
Over the Rainbow Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high There's a land that…
Rose Room I want to take you to a little room A little…
Round About Midnight It begins to tell 'Round midnight, midnight I do pretty well…
September Song Oh, it's a long, long while from May to December But…
So in Love Yesterday you came my way, And when you smiled at me, In…
Somewhere Over The Rainbow Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high There's a land that…
St. Louis Blues I hate to see that evening sun go down I hate…
Star Eyes Star eyes, That to me is what your eyes are, Soft as…
Stardust And now the purple dusk of twilight time Steals across the…
Street Of Dreams Midnight, you heavy laden, it's midnight Come on and trade …
That's Love Yesterday you came my way, And when you smiled at me, In…
The Man I Love When the mellow moon begins to beam Every night I dream…
The Shadow Of Your Smile The shadow of your smile When you have gone Will color all…
These Foolish Things Oh! Will you never let me be? Oh! Will you never…
Too Close for Comfort Be wise, be fair, be sure, be there, behave, beware Be…
What Is This Thhg Called Love? I was a hum-drum person Leading a life apart When love fle…
When You're Smiling I saw a blind man, He was a kind man, Helping a…
Without a Song Without a song the day would never end Without a song…
You Go to My Head You go to my head And you linger like a haunting…
You'd Be so Nice to Come Home To You'd be so nice to come home to You'd be so…
Younger Than Springtime Younger than springtime are you Softer than starlight are y…
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ullscarf
Electric ballroom classic!
Jennifer Braud
Wow! I have been searching for this song for years. Seriously-since the 1980's. My sister (Betsy Braud-jazz musician in & around Baton Rouge & New Orleans...flute, sax, keyboards) had the album with the studio version of this. For some reason, I thought the tune was named 'Salt and Pepper". Love me some Art Pepper. Does anyone have the album 'No Limit' with the original studio version? Surely some Jazz Geek would love to upload it, not only me, but for posterity's sake as well.
Dave Holl
Brilliant piece! thanks for the upload!
MadMaddy1200
Awesome jazz here! Thanks for the upload :)
SuperXavier30
Live Version!..Great!