Art Pepper

Alto saxophonist Art Pepper rose to fame in the 1950s as a major star of the West Coast jazz scene. Despite battling heroin addiction and serving time in prison, Pepper remained a prolific performer, known for his lyrical style and contributions to the cool jazz sound popularized on the West Coast. His career resurgence in the late '60s led to a series of acclaimed albums, including Living Legend and Straight Life, showcasing a shift towards a more robust, hard bop sound influenced by John Coltrane. Pepper's legacy as both a fallen jazz star and resilient artist endures, solidifying his status in jazz history.

Born in 1925 in California, Art Pepper showed early musical talent, joining Stan Kenton's band as a teenager and quickly gaining recognition as one of the best alto saxophonists in the country. Despite setbacks from drug-related issues and prison time, Pepper released a string of influential albums in the '50s and '60s, solidifying his reputation as a jazz innovator. His later years saw a fruitful collaboration with his wife Laurie Pepper, leading to a successful comeback and a series of acclaimed recordings, including So in Love and Artworks. Pepper's enduring impact on jazz is celebrated through posthumous releases and compilations, keeping his music alive for new generations of listeners.