Signed copies of this book here signed around time of publication are very scarce on the market. Inscribed to charley dig this i know youll identify art pepper 980. In art, laurie has plenty to say about george cables, arts favorite pianist, and has a lot of stuff about longtime pepper sideman milcho leviev. Art pepper s straight life may be the rawest autobiography anyone ever needs to read, drenched in drugs, sex, suicides, cult fiends, prison, mom issues, spousal abuse and rape, with a dash of jazz history. Art peppers straight life goes straight to youtube. Whats surprising is that the music he managed to make during irregular bursts of freedom was enthralling, too. But if the matter boils down to only owning one, the choice is easy. Not only is there a superior version of peppers famous title cut but very emotional and explorative renditions of september song and nature boy. All this history makes a pretty gripping story as its told by art with his wife laurie pepper in their book, straight life dacapo.
I think knowing his life was nearing the end he felt this was the time to get this on paper. Also a note about the book written by kym bonython on inside front pastedown. He expressed early musical interest and talent, and he was given lessons. Ironically, given the notoriously stark, shocking honesty of the book, its an unusually and atypically mellow album, rather less intense than was usual for the late period of peppers career. This book is a great window into a tortured soul who decided to go out on his own terms. Michael bailey, published on may 29, 2014 at all about jazz. He played with miles davis and was hailed as one of the greatest alto players to follow in the.
Attracted by the simplicity and clarity of his writing, readers of all ages and backgrounds have found in. Straight life is pretty definitive and serves as a perfect introduction to peppers second and most rewarding period. Art peppers straight life is one of the seminal jazz autobiographies, essential for its portrait of the postwar west coast scene and its pitiless portrayal of the addicts lifestyle. Pepper refuses to tiptoe round many of the unpalatable episodes of a life that involved alcoholism, heroin. Watch the video for straight life from art peppers art pepper meets the rhythm section for free, and see the artwork, lyrics and similar artists. Why i stuck with a junkie jazzman by laurie pepper. He was a deeply troubled, madly gifted artist, an addict. Art pepper died of a cerebral hemorrhage on june 15, 1982 at the age of 56. The story of art, one of the most famous and popular books on art ever written, has been a world bestseller for over four decades. The story of art pepper from the worlds largest community of readers. I still have no sense at all how good the new book is, but a flat out advertisement encouraging one to read straight life could not have been more persuasive. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers.
The art history project, arts life story told in music, being offered as a three disc set, sums up the intensity of feeling, the wit, rage, sensuality and darking, the moans of pain and shouts of celebration of the life art shared with us in his book, straight life, and always in his music. Art pepper succeeded in becoming one of the finest alto saxophonists of all time despite. In this film, art pepper speaks of his love for his daughter, patricia, for whom he wrote a beautiful song, and her rejection of him. More information about this seller contact this seller 4. Peppers autobiography straight life written with his wife is a brutally honest book that details his sometimes horrifying life. Straight life has been praised by critics, including terry castle, who called it one of the greatest, saddest autobiographies ever written. Art pepper is a gifted, muchrecorded alto saxophonist hes played with benny carter, stan kenton, buddy rich, and in smaller groups, but the musical interest in this long, dank memoir is barely incidental. The life story of the american jazz saxaphonist art pepper, the man who could never live the straight life, always on the run, a heroin addict. Art peppers straight life goes straight to youtube art pepper was a selftaught jazz legend. Art pepper 19251982 was called the greatest alto saxophonist of the postcharlie parker generation. Both were violent alcoholics, and when art was still quite young he was sent to live with his paternal grandmother. Straight life by art pepper overdrive rakuten overdrive.
Art told me his story, i wrote it down, and i fell in love with and married that complex and inspiring man. Not for the fainthearted, art peppers autobiography is painfully ho. His recordings for contemporary and galaxy rank with the greatest work of his career. Art pepper was born in gardena, california, on september 1, 1925.
Straight life the story of art pepper by art and laurie pepper by c. But that book is about a pop star in one of the most successful groups of all time. The rigor and abandon with which he lived his life were present in every note he played. The story of art pepper by art pepper 19790503 jan 1, 1810. Book depository books with free delivery worldwide. Straight life was released to coincide with the launch of peppers identicallytitled autobiography. Michael connelly often gets asked about the music that he mentions in his books.
If it had, theres a good chance that no nightclub would book art pepper, nor any record label sign him to a deal. Peppers longtime heroin addiction is the focus here, with all the pathetic, harrowing, strangely selfcongratulatory tales of degradation that one has come to expect in addict. Jazz is what has kept me from completely losing my marbles. Art pepper 1925 1982 was described as the greatest altosexophonist of the postcharlie parker. During his career alto saxophonist art pepper cut many records, and every jazzfriendly collection should own at least a few. Art pepper 1925 1982 was described as the greatest altosaxophonist of the postcharlie parker generation. Signed copies of this book here signed around time of publication are very. And the author of straight life, the selfportrait that manages to put the pieces of this life together. The story of art pepper is the autobiography of jazz saxophonist art pepper, cowritten with his wife, laurie pepper. Played with benny carter, stan kenton, shelly manne. This is however a book about a man who continually bounced back from personal crisis. Synopsis art pepper 19251982 was called the greatest alto saxophonist of the postcharlie parker generation.
Why art peppers straight life is still the most harrowing. But his autobiography, straight life, is much more than a jazz bookit is one of the most explosive, yet one of the most lyrical, of all autobiographies. But the 1979 publication of straight life and accompanying press had revived arts career. Art pepper pulls no punches or has any regrets for the life he led. This book is an honest account of a life which was anything but straight.
Why i stuck with a junkie jazzman by laurie pepper by c. Art pepper died june 15, 1982 of a cerebral hemorrhage. Like his book, pepper is selfdeprecating, hence the brutal honesty i speak of. So here is the complete list of artists, songs, and cds mentioned in michaels novels. Art pepper 1925 1982 was described as the greatest altosexophonist of the postcharlie parker generation. Art pepper best of straight life, youd be so nice to come home to and more hits. Michael bailey, published on june, 2014 at all about jazz. The story of art pepper by art pepper, laurie pepper. This is however a book about a man who continually read more. Why i stuck with a junkie jazzman which covers some of the same ground, but with an entirely different perspective. Jacket comment by dan wakefield and ornette coleman. The book was a collaboration between art and his wife, laurie, who shaped and structured hours of taped conversations while preserving arts singular perspective. Laurie pepper a world famous saxophonist tells the story of his successful career as a jazz musician, his problems with drug addiction, and the time he spent in hospitals, prisons, and drug rehabilitation centers.
Thats how much of an impact straight life made on me. Why art peppers straight life is still the most harrowing jazz. It features the troubled yet outstanding young hornman in cahoots with. Straight life at amazon published in 1979, straight life was the story of art pepper. Altoist art pepper recorded many albums for the galaxy label during 19791982. And the author of straight life, the selfportrait that. Straight life the story of art pepper by art and laurie. Straight life is tellall, but only about peppers life. Theres some sniping about sidemen playing ballads in doubletime, which particularly peeved pepper or, a rare gem, a little story about vibist. Together, they wrote his autobiography, straight life.
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