One of the greats amid the West Coast's relative sunny response to New York cool, Pepper was an alto saxophonist with a lively, breezy tone who reveled in bebop's rhythmic agility without copying Charlie Parker. After playing in Stan Kenton's orchestra during the late '40s and early '50s, he went on to wax terrific sides as a leader, combining fast rhythmic soloing with a lighter-than-air tone. Unlike others, he survived prison and addiction to enjoy a remarkable comeback in the mid-'70s, doubling down on his exquisite melancholy with a commanding lyrical flow.