Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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ADAMS, Pepper

(b Park Adams, 8 October 1930, Highland Park MI; d 10 September 1986, NYC) Baritone sax; he became a Harry Carney fan at age 12. Served in the Korean War; worked in Detroit with Lucky Thompson, Kenny Burrell, others; recorded '55 with John Coltrane, Paul Chambers, Curtis Fuller; to NYC '56; with Stan Kenton, Maynard Ferguson, Benny Goodman, Donald Byrd; nicknamed 'The Knife' for authoritative attack: he could not play an uninteresting solo.

He played on the darkly beautiful John Coltrane/Mal Waldron album Dakar '57, writing 'Mary's Blues' and 'Witches' Pit', and had a featured solo on 'Cat's Walk'; in the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis band from '65 including tours and records; and worked with David Amram. His own quintet LPs included Pure Pepper '57; 10 To 4 At The 5 Spot '58, with Byrd. Out Of This World '61, with Byrd and Herbie Hancock, was later reissued under their names; Pepper Adams Plays Mingus '63 had an octet on some tunes. Other LPs: Mean What You Say '66, with Jones, Lewis, Ron Carter; Encounter! '68, with Carter, Zoot Sims, Elvin Jones, Tommy Flanagan; Ephemera '73 and Reflectory '78, both with Roland Hanna, the latter nominated for a Grammy '80; quartet LPs The Master '80 with Flanagan, Urban Dreams '81 with Jimmy Rowles. He also played on LPs led by Byrd; on Amram's Triple Concerto '71; on Mingus LPs Blues & Roots '58, Me, Myself An Eye '78, many others. He played bassoon on LPs Julian and Twelfth And Pingree '75 on Enja.