Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Pepper Adams: Live at Room at the Top

8

Pepper Adams: Live at Room at the Top

By

Sign in to view read count
Pepper Adams: Live at Room at the Top
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 horn instantly engaged, on one of those rare nights when the band was behind him, not vice versa. Adams then enchants all gathered with the first time play of his own stately meditation "Civilization and its Discontents," followed by "Patrice," a one-two shot that serve as the jumping romp on the setlist. "Patrice" wouldn't be recorded officially until a year later on the Tony Williams-produced Emphera (Spotlite Records, 1974).

Not a man to boast or regale himself (though in his later years he did become somewhat antagonistic at being pigeon-holed as a sideman), Adams' deserved to step out much more than he did, which gives Live at Room at the Top another very active plus in a full plus column. By the time pianist Tommy Banks, guitarist-turned-bassist-for-the-night Bobby Cairns and drummer Tom Doran have each ripped off big, ballsy, introductory solos of their own on "Three and One" the tables are bopping hard and happy in Alberta.

A cure-all course in bop ensemble, Live at Room at the Top is all great fun as the legendary Canadian trio cooks with a wild, structured abandon, as on Banks' mad cap comping on the fire breathing "Oleo" and Cairns' poppy solo and overall stealthy magnetism of "Time On My Hands," high points in a most joyful listening experience.

Track Listing

Three And One; Civilization and its Discontents; Patrice; Oleo;'Tis

Personnel

Pepper Adams
saxophone, baritone
Bobby Cairns
bass, electric
Tom Doran
drums

Album information

Title: Live at Room at the Top | Year Released: 2022 | Record Label: Reel To Real

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Sensual
Rachel Z
Over and Over
Tony Monaco Trio
Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.