Art Pepper: Notes from a Jazz Survivor

Alto saxophonist Art Pepper, born in 1925, came to prominence during the era of cool jazz, though he played with the intensity of bop. A native of San Pedro, California, Pepper was a sax prodigy who was so hot that he was playing lead alto for Stan Kenton in 1947. But he was a bit of a wild thing: His first taste of heroin sent him to dreamland and he spent nearly 20 years riding the tiger before he was finally able, with the help of his wife, Laurie, to get straight. Combining concert and interview footage, this re-released documentary (made in 1981; Pepper died the following year) tells an amazing story. Even more amazing, however, is Pepper's music. After completely trashing himself, doing hard time in San Quentin and playing zero music, Pepper emerged from his self-created hell and knocked down the best jazz of his entire life. Go figure. Recommended for larger jazz collections. Aud: C, P. (P. Van Vleck)