Happy 80th Birthday, Art Pepper!

craigz · September-1st-2005, 11:03 PM

Born September 1, 1925, died June 1, 1982. Still holding a place up above for us cats down here on the stage.

I'm playing one of his oldest and best.

And one of the classic jazz album covers!

Ron Thorne · September-1st-2005, 11:50 PM

Wow, Art died far too young. Nothing new there, sadly.

Happy Birthday, indeed, to one of my favorite Peppers.

Great album art, craigz!

Chuck Nessa · September-10th-2005, 07:57 PM

One of my favorite memories is a 4 am breakfast with Art and Laurie at a Pancake House in Chicago - just before he died.

Laurie said " Art, they have all the stuff you like - American food".

Deke Thornton · September-10th-2005, 10:39 PM

Probably my favorite musician of all. I was lucky enough to catch him live twice in DC -- at Blues Alley in the Spring of '81 and at the Kennedy Center in May of '82. The latter turned out to be his last public performance. He was great to see live, what with his impassioned playing and stream-of-conciousness commentary.

Mingus · September-11th-2005, 09:17 AM

Smack Up - my first taste of Art Pepper and West Coast sound. Still enjoy his tone a great deal.

Straight Life - A great read.

-Mingus

LeMo · September-11th-2005, 10:24 AM

I've seen him live during his first and last european tour.
Great memory if not a great concert.
One of my favorite "vintage" musician with Giuffre, Rollins and few others.

clinthopson · September-12th-2005, 12:21 PM

I first saw him when he was with Kenton. He's always been one of my alto faves.