Straight Life (41 page)

A publicity picture, 1976. Photo by Laurie Pepper.

Laurie. Photo by Mirandi Babitz. Used by permission.

Les Koenig presiding over a 1977 record date for Art Pepper: No Limit. From left to right: Les, Carl Burnett, George Cables (seated; I call him "Mr. Beautiful." He's my favorite pianist.), and Tony Dumas. Photo by Laurie Pepper.

The first Japanese tour, 1977. Cal Tjader and I after our concert in Tokyo, holding flowers given us by pretty followers of jazz. My reception there was overwhelming and frightening. I feel a strong obligation to return to Japan again and again and to justify, in my playing and recording, the devotion of the Japanese fans. Photo by Laurie Pepper.

A live radio broadcast from Tokyo in 1977. Photo by Laurie Pepper.

On the cover of the Newport Jazz Festival issue of the Japanese magazine, Swing Journal, July, 1977. The photo was taken at the beginning of my U.S. east coast tour. Photo by Nobuo Hiyashi. Used by permission.

In the kitchen of the Village Vanguard at the end of the east coast tour, August, 1977. Photo by Mitchell Seidel. Used by permission.

At a photo session for Swing Journal in Tokyo, 1978. One of the photographers took this picture of Laurie and me.

Japan again in March, 1978. We traveled and performed eighteen days out of nineteen. My band, from left to right: Milcho Leviev, Bob Magnusson, and Carl Burnett, all fine musicians. We played large, medium, and small halls and tiny nightclubs. This is a rehearsal in a huge hall in Hiroshima. Photo by Ted Kimura. Used by permission.

One of the most pleasant record dates I've ever done-Art Pepper: Among Friends, September, 1978. From left to right: me; drummer, Frank Butler; bassist, Bob Magnusson; and pianist, Russ Freeman. Photo by Laurie Pepper.

I like this portrait Laurie took of meat the Among Friends date, September 2, 1978, the day after my birthday. Photo by Laurie Pepper.

This picture was taken recently at Dontes, a Los Angeles jazz club. I've played there many, many times, and each time it's a battle; I'm out to conquer the audience. I feel my whole musical life is on the line with each performance. In this picture it looks like I'm winning. Photo by Laurie Pepper.

At Dontes, ready to try to win again. I think my expression in this picture suggests how hard it is to play jazz. Photo by Laurie Pepper.