Art & Laurie Pepper
Canongate, 2000
Paperback. 576pp. b&w illustrations
£12.99

Art Pepper (1925-1982) is generally considered the greatest alto saxophonist of the post-Charlie Parker generation. But Straight Life is much more than than a jazz book - it is one of the most explosive, yet one of the most lyrical, of all autobiographies, narrated on tape to his wife Laurie.

Pepper refuses to tiptoe round many of the unpalatable episodes of a life that involved alcoholism, heroin addiction, armed robberies and five of what should have been his most productive years imprisoned in San Quentin. The result is an autobiography like no other, a masterpiece of the spoken word, shaped into a genuine work of literature.

back to previous page

back to previous page

FURTHER READING

Art Pepper Companion a collection of articles

TIMELINES

Art Pepper bebop West Coast

Visit our timeline and lifeline sections to view a history of jazz and its leading players.

BOOK SEARCH

Search the descriptions and contents of our stock. Our author index lists authors in alphabetical order.

CD SEARCH

Search using name of artist, title, year of recording, or label. Our CD index lists main artists in alphabetical order.