By my count, Art Pepper recorded on five known movie soundtracks. In most cases, he was the featured soloist: Some Like It Hot (1959), The Subterraneans (1960), The Enforcer (1976), The Gauntlet (1977) and Heart Beat (1980). [Photo of Laurie and Art Pepper above by Phil Bray courtesy of Laurie Pepper]
Let's give a listen...
After researching the film's musical numbers as well as the opening and closing themes, my guess is that Art Pepper played the clarinet in the jazz-band ensemble pieces (Dave Pell played the tenor saxophone parts). After the musicians wrapped the soundtrack in 1959, Barney Kessel recorded a Some Like It Hot album, featuring many of the musicians who went uncredited on the 1959 film score, including Pepper. The musicians were Barney Kessel (g), Joe Gordon (tp), Pepper (ts), Jimmy Rowles (p), Jack Marshall (g), Monty Budwig (b) and Shelly Manne (d). Here's Pepper on the title theme...
Here's Andre Previn's gorgeous theme to The Subteranneans, with Previn on piano and Gerry Mulligan on baritone saxophone. Pepper appears in the opening credits. That's Mulligan in an acting roll as the hip minister with a cross around his neck...
Here's Pepper playing Rooftop Chase from Jerry Fielding's score for the Clint Eastwood film, The Enforcer...
(If you want to hear the entire score for The Enforcer, go here.)
Here's Pepper with trumpeter Jon Faddis playing The Pickup from Jerry Fielding's score for the Clint Eastwood film The Gauntlet...
And here's Pepper playing Neal's Theme from Jack Nitzsche's score for Heart Beat...
A special thanks to Doug Paterson and David Langner.
