Jazz Articles about Pepper Adams

Pepper Adams: Saxophone Trailblazer

by David A. Orthmann
December 12, 2023

Pepper Adams: Saxophone Trailblazer Gary Carner 240 ISBN: #9781438494357 Excelsior Editions2023 Baritone saxophonist Pepper Adams was essential to this reviewer's formative years as a jazz enthusiast. During the 1970s, in Storrs, Connecticut, New York City, northern New Jersey, and Kansas City, Missouri, I had many opportunities to witness Adams's blazing talent. Regardless of the setting and the capabilities of the musicians surrounding him, he was always on. It was heady stuff. Lengthy ...

Pepper Adams: Live at Room at the Top

by Edward Blanco
April 20, 2022

The late, great baritone saxophonist Park Frederick “Pepper" Adams III may be gone but he is certainly not forgotten, as Live at Room at the Top reveals in a spellbinding and blistering engagement documented but not released until now. Recorded at the University of Alberta Student Union at the Top, in September 1972, Adams and the Canadian rhythm section of pianist Tommy Banks, bassist Bobby Cairns and drummer Tom Doran delivered a scorching performance, including a host of relentless solo ...

Pepper Adams: Live at Room at the Top

by Mike Jurkovic
April 19, 2022

Recorded live in Alberta, Canada, in late September, 1972, Live at Room at the Top hits a top spot. Brought to light by intrepid saxophonist Cory Weeds and his archival Reel to Reel label (part of his Cellar Music Group) Pepper powers his way to the front of the bandstand poised, muscular and insistent with a versatility born from instinct and endurance. Like a lit fuse, Thad Jones inaugural burner “Three and One" finds Adams' smooth but boisterous ...

Pepper Adams and the Tommy Banks Trio: Live at Room at the Top

by Pierre Giroux
April 15, 2022

In a foreword by Jim Merod to Gary Carner's biography of Pepper Adams “Reflectory: The Life and Music of Pepper Adams," he describes Adams as follows: “Pepper was essentially alone in his magnificent command of his big horn's imposing challenges. He set a standard for its lyric power and boisterous allure." In this double LP 180 gram vinyl release by Reel To Real Records, Live at Room At The Top , Adams demonstrates his creative power ...

Lee Morgan: The Cooker

by Samuel Chell
January 29, 2007

Although Lee Morgan had already made a handful of albums at the age of 19, The Cooker (1957) represents his throwing down the gauntlet as successor to Clifford Brown's vacated throne. It's close to being a pure bebop session, suggestive of a date like For Musicians Only (Verve, 1956), on which Gillespie, Stitt and Getz set some sort of record for NPS (notes per second). At the same time, the precocious trumpeter, already brimming with confidence, is not about to ...

Pepper Adams: Urban Dreams

by Derek Taylor
December 11, 2003

Musicians frequently become associated with the attributes of their instruments. Charles Mingus was hulking and imposing, just like his bass. Art Blakey had the propulsive, authoritative personality of his drums. Paul Desmond was urbane and laidback, just like the sound of his sweet-toned alto.

There are, of course, exceptions to these sorts of correlations. Take Pepper Adams for instance. Slight of frame, particularly in his later years, Adams physical presence was the apotheosis of his chosen axe. Hefting ...

Donald Byrd: Electric Byrd

by Jim Santella
December 1, 1997

This landmark recording from 1970 followed on the heels of Miles Davis' Bitch's Brew and contained many of the same elements that Miles used in his innovative ventures; jazz moved away from the wah-wah trumpet and ushered in the wah-wah guitar. With a lineup including Mickey Roker on drums, Ron Carter on bass, Duke Pearson on electric piano, Wally Richardson on electric guitar, Bill Campbell on trombone and a reed section of Jerry Dodgion, Frank Foster, Lew Tabackin and Pepper ...