Art Pepper: Notes from a Jazz Survivor
Art Pepper: Notes from a Jazz Survivor
| 31 December 1982 (USA)
Art Pepper: Notes from a Jazz Survivor Trailers

Saxophonist Art Pepper (1925-1982) lived the kind of jazz life only found in Hollywood movies. His prodigious talent led him to top gigs as a teenager, but drugs and attendant criminal activity knocked him out of commission for virtually all of the 1960s and early 1970s. This documentary, shot shortly after his searing memoir, {-Straight Life}, was published in 1979, shows Pepper in the full flower of a remarkable comeback. His third wife, Laurie, is featured prominently; they met in the drug treatment facility Synanon in 1969 and were married in 1974. She took over his business affairs and helped him write {-Straight Life}. Pepper tells his own story here, but the emphasis is on an evening's performance at a club in Malibu, with the musician in fine form, backed by a terrific trio. (Tom Wiener, Rovi)

Reviews
Ceticultsot

Beautiful, moving film.

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WillSushyMedia

This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

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AshUnow

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

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Nicole

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

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RoboSlater

Musical ideas came naturally to legendary saxophonist Art Pepper, probably more so than any other jazz musician in history. He married his manager Laurie who, like Thelonious Monk's and many other musicians' widows, looked after his basic needs during his years on (and off) the road. You'll see how she might have even extended his life. The film doesn't cover his many years in prison, or his music before he joined that "gated community", just his life since and a few [wonderful] extended jazz performances after his release. Heroin was his drug and it eventually took its toll. He speaks candidly. Film follows the tone of his book. Fascinating, positive. You'll know him like a relative by films end. Appreciate it just for the music, even!

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