Straight Life (40 page)

Hollywood-Art Pepper, alto man who took first place in the beat's 1951 poll, launched his new quartet at L.A.'s Surf Club recently. Unit is hailed by modernists (down beat, February 22) as the most musically refreshing new group on the coast since Dave Brubeck's. With this issue's Scanning subject are Hampton Hawes, piano; Joe Mondragon, bass; and Lorry Bunker, drums and vibes. down beat, March 7, 1952. Copyright 1952 by down beat. Used by special permission.

Hollywood-Onetime Kenton bass man Howard Rumsey started Sunday afternoon sessions at the Lighthouse Cafe, Hermosa Beach, two years ago. Now it's a fulltime operation and a notable west coast spot for the friends of progressive jazz. Sitting in when this photo was taken were, left to right, Teddy Edwards, Art Pepper, Doug Mettome, Shorty Rogers, bassist Rumsey, and Shelly Manne...down beat, August 24, 1951. Copyright 1951 by down beat. Used by special permission.

In 1956 Diane and I lived on one of the steepest hills in Los Angeles, on Fargo Street. I woke up one morning to a phone call from Bill Claxton, the photographer, saying that he had to take my picture today for the cover of The Return of Art Pepper. I had run out of heroin and was very sick, and I was unable to score before Bill got there. We climbed to the corner, and he snapped this picture of me in agony. Photo by William Claxton. Used by permission.

ART PEPPER

Exclusive CONTEMPORARY RECORDS recording artist.

My grandmother, Diane, my father, and Thelma, about 1958. Diane and I were both fat because we'd been drinking Cosanyl. Photo courtesy of Thelma Pepper.

Diane and Bijou, about 1965. 1 left them both with Marie. Photo courtesy of Marie Randall.

The Buddy Rich band of 1968. My spleen had ruptured and was removed, and I rejoined the band (too soon, it turned out) at the Riverboat in New York. Woody Herman is on the extreme left, lack Jones is holding the microphone, Don Menza is sitting on the far left in the sax section. I'm right next to him. Photo courtesy of Don and Rose Menza.

(Facing page.) Bassist Jim Krutcher took this picture of me, 1967 or '68. Photo courtesy of Jim Krutcher.

Activities board in the main lobby at Synanon, 1971. Photo by Laurie Pepper.

Jamming in Synanon. Phil Woods came to visit. From left to right, Phil, me playing tenor, and Frank Rehak.

(Left) My fourth and greatest love, Laurie, on the beach at Synanon, 1970. (Right) Laurie and I in one of those photo booths, 1975.

Conducting a clinic. I'm instructing the saxophone section of a college band. Photo by Laurie Pepper.