Art Pepper was described as the greatest alto-saxophonist of the post-Charlie Parker generation. Straight Life, originally narrated on tape to his wife Laurie, is an explosive work chronicling his work amidst a life dealing with alcoholism, heroin addiction, armed robberies and imprisonment.

The result is an autobiography like no other, a masterpiece of the spoken word, shaped into a genuine work of literature.

Introduction by: Gary Giddins