Pepper Adams

Johnny "Hammond" Smith: Wild Horses Rock Steady

by Arnaldo DeSouteiro
November 3, 2024

Born John Robert Smith on December 16, 1933 (in jny: Louisville, KY), formerly known as Johnny Hammond Smith, and later as Johnnny Hammond, one of the all-time best jazz organists passed away on June 4, 1997, in jny: Chicago, Illinois. For some of his early fans, some of the best albums he recorded were done for Prestige in the Sixties. A younger generation, who grew up listening to the hip-hop influenced jazz sounds of the 1990s, prefers Johnny's over-produced sessions ...

Eric Gale: Forecast

by Arnaldo DeSouteiro
October 13, 2024

Eric Gale (born on September 20, 1938, of Barbadian parents, in Brooklyn, NY) recorded over 500 albums as sideman, backing such stars as Aretha Franklin, King Curtis, Dianna Ross, Paul Simon, Lena Horne, Michel Legrand, Quincy Jones, Roberta Flack, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Joe Cocker, Carly Simon, Van Morrison, Milton Nascimento, Billy Joel, Gato Barbieri and Mongo Santamaria, to name a few. Gale's association with Creed Taylor began when the celebrated producer was working at Verve Records. ...

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 ...

Backgrounder: Pepper Adams Quintet,' 1957

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
October 30, 2023

Stu Williamson was a gorgeous trumpeter and valve trombonist. His smooth tone and ease with which he played and soloed landed him in the Hollywood studios in the 1950s. Born in Brattleboro, Vt., Williamson moved to Los Angeles in 1949. Sadly, he struggled with drug addiction for much of his career. The younger brother of West Coast pianist Claude Williamson, Stu Williamson died in 1991 at age 58. Williamson played on just one album with baritone saxophonist Pepper Adams. Recorded ...
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Jazz Musician of the Day: Pepper Adams

Source: Michael Ricci
October 8, 2021

All About Jazz is celebrating Pepper Adams' birthday today!

Pepper Adams was one of hard bop's most significant baritone saxophonists. His dark, hearty tone on the horn and driving rhythmic sense provided the antithesis to the lighter, floating (and consequently more popular) styles of Gerry Mulligan. His family moved to Rochester, New York when he was young and in that city he began his musical efforts. That said his family's later move to Detroit, Michigan, a suburb of which was ...
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Jazz Musician of the Day: Pepper Adams

Source: Michael Ricci
October 8, 2020

All About Jazz is celebrating Pepper Adams' birthday today!

Pepper Adams was one of hard bop's most significant baritone saxophonists. His dark, hearty tone on the horn and driving rhythmic sense provided the antithesis to the lighter, floating (and consequently more popular) styles of Gerry Mulligan. His family moved to Rochester, New York when he was young and in that city he began his musical efforts. That said his family's later move to Detroit, Michigan, a suburb of which was ...
read more

Jazz Musician of the Day: Pepper Adams

Source: Michael Ricci
October 8, 2019

All About Jazz is celebrating Pepper Adams' birthday today!

Pepper Adams was one of hard bop\'s most significant baritone saxophonists. His dark, hearty tone on the horn and driving rhythmic sense provided the antithesis to the lighter, floating (and consequently more popular) styles of Gerry Mulligan. His family moved to Rochester, New York when he was young and in that city he began his musical efforts. That said his family\'s later move to Detroit, Michigan... Read more.

Place our Musician ...
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Pepper Adams Plays Mingus

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
October 15, 2018

Berry Gordy hedged his bets in 1962.Though the founder of Motown had his first #1 pop and R&B hit with the Marvelettes' Please Mr. Postman in late 1961, the following year was dry. So Gordy formed other labels—Gordy, Mel-o-dy, Divinity and Workshop— to diversify and reach different radio stations. Workshop was a jazz label that tapped into local musicians. Gordy knew the Detroit jazz market well, having run a jazz record store in the 1950s that went belly up and ...
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Jazz Musician of the Day: Pepper Adams

Source: Michael Ricci
October 8, 2017

All About Jazz is celebrating Pepper Adams' birthday today!

Pepper Adams was one of hard bop\'s most significant baritone saxophonists. His dark, hearty tone on the horn and driving rhythmic sense provided the antithesis to the lighter, floating (and consequently more popular) styles of Gerry Mulligan. His family moved to Rochester, New York when he was young and in that city he began his musical efforts. That said his family\'s later move to Detroit, Michigan... Read more.

Place our Musician ...
read more

Jazz Musician of the Day: Pepper Adams

Source: Michael Ricci
October 8, 2016

All About Jazz is celebrating Pepper Adams' birthday today!

Pepper Adams was one of hard bop\'s most significant baritone saxophonists. His dark, hearty tone on the horn and driving rhythmic sense provided the antithesis to the lighter, floating (and consequently more popular) styles of Gerry Mulligan. His family moved to Rochester, New York when he was young and in that city he began his musical efforts. That said his family\'s later move to Detroit, Michigan... Read more.

Place our Musician ...
read more

Jazz Musician of the Day: Pepper Adams

Source: Michael Ricci
October 8, 2015

All About Jazz is celebrating Pepper Adams' birthday today! Pepper Adams was one of hard bop\'s most significant baritone saxophonists. His dark, hearty tone on the horn and driving rhythmic sense provided the antithesis to the lighter, floating (and consequently more popular) styles of Gerry Mulligan. His family moved to Rochester, New York when he was young and in that city he began his musical efforts. That said his family\'s later move to Detroit, Michigan... Read more. Place our Musician ...
read more

Jazz Musician of the Day: Pepper Adams

Source: Michael Ricci
October 8, 2014

All About Jazz is celebrating Pepper Adams' birthday today! Pepper Adams was one of hard bop\'s most significant baritone saxophonists. His dark, hearty tone on the horn and driving rhythmic sense provided the antithesis to the lighter, floating (and consequently more popular) styles of Gerry Mulligan. His family moved to Rochester, New York when he was young and in that city he began his musical efforts. That said his family\'s later move to Detroit, Michigan... Read more. Place our Musician ...
read more

Jazz Musician of the Day: Pepper Adams

Source: Michael Ricci
October 8, 2013

All About Jazz is celebrating Pepper Adams' birthday today!

Pepper Adams was one of hard bop\'s most significant baritone saxophonists. His dark, hearty tone on the horn and driving rhythmic sense provided the antithesis to the lighter, floating (and consequently more popular) styles of Gerry Mulligan. His family moved to Rochester, New York when he was young and in that city he began his musical efforts. That said his family\'s later move to Detroit, Michigan... Read more.

Place our Musician ...
read more