- Paperback: 624 pages
- Publisher: Da Capo Press; Revised edition edition (1 Mar 1994)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0306805588
- ISBN-13: 978-0306805585
- Product Dimensions: 20.1 x 13.3 x 3.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 395,070 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
Straight Life: The Story Of Art Pepper
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Product Description
Product Description
Art Pepper (19251982) was called the greatest alto saxophonist of the post-Charlie Parker generation. 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. This edition is updated with an extensive afterword by Laurie Pepper covering Art Peppers last years, and a complete and up-to-date discography by Todd Selbert.
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MY GRANDMOTHER was a strong person. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
MY GRANDMOTHER was a strong person. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A book of startling honesty, Pepper's life was a mixture of dire degradation and divine inspiration. After a while, there is a tendancy just to become exasperated with Art, as he continually takes one step forward and two back, and this creates a certain repetition (after a while you just KNOW that he's gonna goof again!). The book remains however, overwhelmingly moving as a demonstration of both the strengths (Pepper's immense talent) and weaknesses (his obsessive, addictive behaviour) of human nature.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is one of the most powerful and moving autobiographies I have ever read, in any context. In the sphere of jazz, it is unsurpassed. Even someone who has never heard or heard of Art Pepper should read this book. If you like his music, it is indispensible. Just when you start to wonder where fact ends and fiction starts, the author keeps jolting you back to total belief with brutally honest criticisms of himself, his weaknesses and his talents. A superb book on and by a superb artist, and the wife who clearly gave him immense support, love and inspiration. All life is here.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This horrific and at times heartbreaking story of Art Pepper's life, as told by himself and several friends, relatives, collegues and such, will haunt you long after reading.
The level of candidness is absolutely stunning; in addition to jazz fans and non-fiction fans, this autobiography will make for excellent reading for psychologists and psychoanalysts and such,
but first and foeremost, I'd say that the rivetting candor of Art's tale projects such a strong image of a sensitive, complex and intriguing human being, far beyond the clishe of a tormented artist...
This is the edition from 1979, when Art was still alive in spite of everything he has done to himself; some edition have Laurie Pepper's afterword covering the last years of the artists life.
The level of candidness is absolutely stunning; in addition to jazz fans and non-fiction fans, this autobiography will make for excellent reading for psychologists and psychoanalysts and such,
but first and foeremost, I'd say that the rivetting candor of Art's tale projects such a strong image of a sensitive, complex and intriguing human being, far beyond the clishe of a tormented artist...
This is the edition from 1979, when Art was still alive in spite of everything he has done to himself; some edition have Laurie Pepper's afterword covering the last years of the artists life.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Flawed talant evokes highs and lows of life on the road
Musicians will derive a great pleasure from this autobiography as Art Pepper talks about crazy times on tour, wrangles with management and group leaders, being flush with cash and... Read more
Published on 19 Dec 1999 by matthewv@ndirect.co.uk
Brutally honest self-portrait
I have read this book twice now. The first time I read it, being a fanatical fan of Art Pepper and having seen him at his best, and worst, I was looking for reasons why Art had... Read more
Published on 1 Aug 1999
Stunning Book!
This is one of the most powerful and moving autobiographies I have ever read, in any context. In the sphere of jazz, it is unsurpassed. Read more
Published on 19 Feb 1999
Reading Straight Life 4 times over the last 10 years finally
Reading Straight Life 4 times over the last 5 years finally motivated me to listen to some jazz...
Straight Life is one of those few books that I feel compelled to re-read every... Read more
Published on 12 May 1998
Powerful!
This book is an honest account of a life which was anything but straight. Art Pepper succeeded in becoming one of the finest alto saxophonists of all time despite his hopeless... Read more
Published on 8 Oct 1997
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