“
Laurie’s account of the vicissitudes of the jazz life, with its grueling touring
schedules, often unsatisfactory recording sessions, problems with sidemen etc.—all
immeasurably complicated and exacerbated by the saxophonist’s ceaseless craving
for the inevitably unattainable ultimate high—is simply spellbinding in the
sheer power of its dedication to truth.
”
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— Chris Parker, Grammy-nominated recording
and studio drummer, in London Jazz News
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ART: Why I Stuck with a Junkie Jazzman describes Laurie Pepper’s
marriage to the deeply troubled, drug-addicted, madly gifted artist. “That
marriage was the making of me,” she says. “Some people go to grad school
or join the Marines. I married a genius who valued and inspired me and challenged
me to use MY gifts. We had a difficult, powerful partnership. I had to tell that
story.” She says she also needs to set the record straight and clarify her
role: “People think I was some kind of little wifey-saint who rescued him.
And Art encouraged them in that. But he knew how truly crazy I could be. We rescued
each other.”
• Read an excerpt...
• Read a review...
by Matt R. Lohr in JazzTimes (11 September 2014)
• Book details at our Bookshelf
(including bookseller links)
• Audio clips, photographs, reviews, and more at:
www.lauriepepper.net