CiTR

Today, October 8 is the birthday of one of the great masters of the big baritone saxophone, Park Frederick Adams 111 better known as Pepper. He was born in Highland Park, Michigan (near Detroit) and began playing in Detroit. He emigrated to New York in the mid-50's along with many players from Detroit. This Feature is about a very short-lived band co-led by Adams and trombonist Jimmy Knepper. It's their only recording done in March of 1958 but it is of very high quality. Backing Pepper and Knepper is pianist Wynton Kelly, and two colleagues from Detroit, bassist Doug Watkins and soon to be great, drummer Elvin Jones. Two Ellington tunes are played and two by Knepper, one by album producer and critic Leonard Feather, one by vocalist Jon Hendricks and one by Pepper Adams. This was a fine little band and this one album should have kept it going but this is all we have so enjoy it. It's worth it! Pepper Adams was taken from us in 1986, a victim of lung cancer but we have his many albums to appreciate his major talent.