Art Pepper
This 1/2" videotape was shot by John McNaughton circa 1976. In an interview with Chicago Film Archive staff, McNaughton recalled that at this time he was living in New Orleans with members of a video cooperative. The cooperative owned a Sony Portapak video camera, which he borrowed to shoot this tape. McNaughton recalls that this was likely the first time he had ever used a video camera.
The tape documents the performance continuously and is shot from a consistent camera angle, punctuated by a few zooms and pans. Saxophonist Art Pepper is the focus of the camera, though an unidentified pianist and upright bass player are also visible. The drummer of the group can be heard but isn't seen.
At about 00:09:30, Pepper speaks between numbers to dedicate a tune from his new album "The Trip" to pianist Hampton Hawes. At about 00:18:05 Pepper speaks during another break in the music to dedicate the next tune to "women, the most beautiful thing in the world beside music." Toward the end of the video, Pepper appears to introduce the band, though his voice can't be heard well over the music.