Pepper Adams

Infobox musical artist
Name = Pepper Adams


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Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
Birth_name = Park "Pepper" Adams III
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Born = October 8, 1930
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Origin = Highland Park, Michigan
Instrument = Baritone Saxophone
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Genre = Jazz
Hard bop
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Label = Enja Records
Associated_acts = Charles Mingus, Lee Morgan, Donald Byrd, Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Big Band
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Pepper Adams (born Park Adams III on October 8, 1930 in Highland Park, Michigan - died on September 10, 1986 in Brooklyn, New York), was a jazz baritone saxophonist, who is widely considered one of the most significant and influential baritone saxophonists in jazz. Nicknamed "The Knife" for his sound on the horn, his hearty tone and driving rhythmic sense provided the antithesis to the lighter, floating (and consequently more popular) styles of his contemporary Gerry Mulligan.

Life and career

Adams' family moved to Rochester, New York when he was young and in that city he began his musical efforts. Then when he was sixteen a move back to Detroit, Michigan, near where he had been born, would be more important to his career. In Detroit he met several musicians who would later be important to his career, including trumpeter Donald Byrd. Adams now became interested in Wardell Gray's approach to the baritone saxophone, later saying that Gray and Harry Carney were his baritone influences. He also spent time in a United States Army band and briefly had a tour of duty in Korea. [ [http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:ywreNKz_RuoJ:www.aaronlington.com/lington-aj.pdf+%22&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=1 A dissertation on Adams] ]

He later moved to New York City where he played on the album "Dakar" by John Coltrane, played with Lee Morgan on "The Cooker", and briefly worked with Benny Goodman's band in 1958. During this time, Adams also began his work with Charles Mingus, performing on one of Mingus' finest albums from this period, Blues & Roots. He recorded with Mingus sporadically from this time until his death in 1979. He later became a significant member of the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Big Band from 1965 to 1978, and continued to record Jones' compositions on many of his albums. [ [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:9zaxqj4bojta~T1 All Music] ] Adams also co-led a quintet with trumpeter Donald Byrd with whom he recorded a live date, "10 to 4 at the 5 Spot" featuring Elvin Jones. [ [http://www.allaboutjazz.com/artists/padams.htm All About Jazz] ]

He died of lung cancer in New York City, New York on September 10, 1986. [ [http://www.jazzcanadiana.on.ca/_Adams.htm Jazz Canadiana] ]

Adams' sound on the baritone was very big and intense, almost completely contrasting Gerry Mulligan's, which lent itself very well to up the up tempo hard bop style that was in prevalent during the 50's and 60's, as can be heard on his recordings with Morgan and Mingus. The styles of Adams and Mulligan are considered to be the foundation for contemporary playing of the baritone saxophone, and, consequently, Adams has influenced many notable jazz baritone saxophone players today. His influence can be heard in Scott Robinson, Ronnie Cuber and Vanguard Jazz Orchestra "bari chair" Gary Smulyan, among many others.

Discography

*"Pepper Adams Quintet" (1957)
*"Critic's Choice" (1957) World Pacific Records
*"10 to 4 at the 5 Spot" (1958) - with Donald Byrd and Elvin Jones
*Donald Byrd and Pepper Adams "Out of This World: The Complete Warwick Sessions" (1961) with pianist Herbie Hancock - Warwick Records
*"Blues & Roots" (1959) with Charles Mingus
*"Encounter" (1968)
*"Ephemera" (1973)
*"Julian" (1975)
*"Twelfth and Pingree" (1975)
*"Live in Europe" (1977)
*"Live Jazz By the Sea" (1977) - live in California
*"Reflectory" (1978)
*"The Master" (1980)
*"Urban Dreams" (1981) quartet w pianist Jimmy Rowles
*"Conjuration: Fat Tuesday's Session" (1983) live, with trumpeter Kenny Wheeler,
*"The Adams Effect" (1989, posthumously)
*"Julian" (Enja Records)

Notes

ources

*American National Biography, vol. 1, pp. 118-119.

External links

* [http://members.tripod.com/~hardbop/pepper.html Pepper Adams on The Hard Bop Homepage]
* [http://www.jazzbarisax.com A site with information on all the great Jazz Baritone Saxophonists and vintage horns]