Born in Highland Park and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Pepper grew up playing with a number of jazz legends including Donald Byrd and the legendary Jones brothers (Elvin, Thad, and Hank) before moving to New York City. In his career, Adams played on over 600 sessions including notable dates with Charles Mingus, Stan Kenton, Donald Byrd, John Coltrane and the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra.
Pepper Adams - Episode 1
This show will highlight his musical influences, his early work with Toots Thielmans and first important albums under his own name from the late 1950’s.
Composition
Artist
Album
Year
Moanin’
Charles Mingus
Blues and Roots
1959
Sophisticated Lady
Harry Carney with Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington at the Stratford Festival
1956
I Got it Bad
Harry Carney
Harry Carney with Strings
1954
Confirmation
Charlie Parker
Bird’s Best on Verve
1953
Move
Wardell Gray’s Los Angeles All Stars
1950
Muezzin’
Pepper Adams
Pepper Adams Quintet
1957
East of the Sun
Toots Thielemans
Man Bites Harmonica
1957
Hastings St Bounce
Pepper Adams
10 to 4 Five Spot
1958
Pepper Adams - Episode 2
This podcast will highlight some of his most memorable recordings made with Donald Byrd, Charles Mingus and Duke Pearson from the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. His association with trumpeter Donald Byrd and pianist-composer Duke Pearson from this period yielded some of Pepper’s most memorable recordings. He went on to have a long career as a studio musician, jazz performer, composer, and bandleader through the mid 1980’s working with many of the most important musicians in jazz.
