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{{Infobox musical artist
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| birth_name
| birth_date
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| past_member_of = [[Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Big Band]]
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'''Park Frederick''' "'''Pepper'''" '''Adams III''' (October 8, 1930 – September 10, 1986)<ref name="Harvard Bio">{{cite book|editor-last=Randel|editor-first=Don Michael
| last = Cook
| first = Richard
| year = 2005
| title = Richard Cook's Jazz Encyclopedia
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| isbn = 0-141-00646-3
| pages = 3
}}</ref> He composed 42 pieces, was the leader on eighteen albums spanning 28 years,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pepperadams.com/DatesAsLeader.html |title=PepperAdams.com |publisher=PepperAdams.com |access-date
==Biography==
===Early life===
Pepper Adams was born in [[Highland Park, Michigan]], to father Park Adams II, who worked as the manager of a [[furniture store]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://doi.org/10.1093/anb/9780198606697.article.1802589 |title=Adams, Pepper |last=Kernfeld |first=Barry |website=American National Biography |year=2000 |publisher=Oxford University Press |doi=10.1093/anb/9780198606697.article.1802589 |access-date=August 22, 2022}}</ref> and mother, Cleo Marie Coyle.<ref name="Harvard Bio" /><ref name="Carner Chronology">{{cite web|last=Carner|first=Gary|title=Pepper Adams: Chronology|url=http://www.pepperadams.com/Chronology/index.html|
Due to the onset of the [[Great Depression in the United States|Great Depression]], Adams' parents separated to allow his father to find work without geographic dependence.<ref name="Carner Chronology" /> In the fall of 1931, Adams moved with his mother to his extended family's farm near [[Columbia City, Indiana]], where food and support were more readily available.<ref name="Carner Chronology" /> In 1933, Adams began playing piano. His father having reunited with the family, they moved to [[Rochester, New York]], in 1935 and in that city he began his musical efforts on tenor sax and clarinet.<ref name="Carner Chronology" /> Two years later, Adams began deepening his developing passion for music by listening to [[Fats Waller]]'s daily radio show. He was also influenced at a young age by listening to [[Fletcher Henderson]]'s big band radio broadcasts out of Nashville, [[Jimmie Lunceford]], [[Duke Ellington]], and [[Cab Calloway]].<ref name="Carner Chronology" /><ref name="AllMusic.com Bio">{{cite web|title=Pepper Adams|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/pepper-adams-mn0000255377/biography|publisher=AllMusic.com|access-date=12 April 2014}}</ref> Adams would later describe "[his] time up until the age of eight or so [as] really just traveling from one place to another".<ref name="Pepper Adams Autobiography" /> As early as fourth grade, Adams sold cigarettes and candy door-to-door in order to contribute to his family's income for essential items.<ref name="Carner Chronology" />
Adams' interest in performing further grew in 6th grade when the public school system offered a loaned musical instrument to any student who was interested, and further musical instruction if he could get into the school band.<ref name="Carner Chronology" /> Initially Adams chose the trumpet, then the trombone, but eventually settled on the [[clarinet]], which he played in the school band.<ref name="Carner Chronology" /> The following year Adams attained his lifelong nickname of "Pepper" due to former [[St. Louis Cardinals]] star [[Pepper Martin]] signing on to manage and play for the hometown minor league team, the [[Rochester Red Wings]]. Adams' classmates saw a resemblance between the two, and the nickname stuck.<ref name="Carner Chronology" /> Later in his career, Adams also attained the nickname "the Knife" for "his 'slashing and chopping technique', which had a humbling effect upon musicians fortunate enough to gig with him".<ref name="AllMusic.com Bio"/>▼
▲Adams' interest in performing further grew in
In 1943 Adams skipped school for a week in order to see Ellington play local gigs. He eventually met [[Rex Stewart]], who further introduced him to [[Harry Carney]] and other band members. This led to Adams being able to take lessons from [[Skippy Williams]], who was the tenor saxophonist in Ellington's band.<ref name="Carner Chronology" /> Adams switched to the tenor saxophone in the fall of 1943 due to his jobs as a box cutter in the mail order room of a jazz store and an usher at a movie theater, which gave him enough money to buy the instrument.<ref name="Carner Chronology" /> His job at the jazz store also allowed him to listen to all of the newest available jazz records <ref name="Pepper Adams Autobiography" /> and led to his emulation of [[Coleman Hawkins]], who he had heard play locally in 1945,<ref name="New Grove Jazz">{{cite web|last=Jeske|first=Lee|title=Adams, Pepper|url=http://0-www.oxfordmusiconline.com.dewey2.library.denison.edu/subscriber/article/grove/music/J002400?q=pepper+adams&search=quick&source=omo_gmo&pos=2&_start=1#firsthit|work=The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz, 2nd Edition|publisher=Oxford University Press|accessdate=12 April 2014}}</ref> and interest in the music of [[Don Byas]].<ref name="Carner Chronology" /> Adams' first steady gig came in 1946 with a six-piece group led by [[Ben Smith (musician)|Ben Smith]], which then caused him to drop out of school in the 11th grade due to working six nights a week.<ref name="Carner Chronology" />▼
In 1943, Adams skipped school for a week in order to see Ellington play local gigs. He eventually met [[Rex Stewart]], who further introduced him to [[Harry Carney]] and other band members. This led to Adams being able to take lessons from [[Skippy Williams]], who was the tenor saxophonist in Ellington's band.<ref name="Carner Chronology" />
▲
===Early playing career===
At age 16, Adams and his mother moved to Detroit, where he soon began playing with [[Willie Wells (jazz musician)|Willie Wells]], who he had heard play for [[Fletcher Henderson]], [[Fats Navarro]], [[Tommy Flanagan]], and Willie Anderson.<ref name="Carner Chronology" /> He had received casual instruction from [[Wardell Gray]] and [[Billy Mitchell (
Upon returning from Korea, Adams began playing at the [[Blue Bird Inn]] in Detroit where he played with [[Thad Jones
Following the recommendation of friend [[Oscar Pettiford]], Adams joined the [[Stan Kenton|Stan Kenton Orchestra]] in 1956, where he played for a majority of the year until leaving the group to form a new ensemble with [[Lee Katzman]] and [[Mel Lewis]] in Los Angeles.<ref name="Carner Chronology" /> Before moving to California, he recorded with [[Kenny Clarke]], [[Curtis Fuller]], and [[Quincy Jones]].<ref name="AllMusic.com Bio" /> In April 1957, Adams joined [[Chet Baker]]'s group, where he played for about a year.<ref name="Carner Chronology" />
He later moved to New York City, where he In September 1963, Adams made an agreement with [[Motown Records]] for an exclusive recording contract and an exclusive management contract with International Talent Management, a Motown affiliate. ===Partnership with Thad Jones===
He later became a founding member<ref name="Feather"/> of the [[Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Big Band]], with whom he played from 1965 to 1976, and thereafter continued to record Jones's compositions on many of his own albums.<ref>{{cite web
===Solo career===
Adams' solo career began in 1977 in California, where he initially stayed with John and Ron Marabuto.<ref name="Carner Chronology" /> He soon played gigs with Mingus, Baker, and Hampton, with whom he went on a two-month European tour in 1978.
Adams began composing "Urban Dreams" on July 29, 1980, on a flight to London for a short European tour.<ref name="Carner Chronology" /> Adams finally replaced his original [[Conn-Selmer|Selmer]] E-flat 'Balanced Action' baritone saxophone in December 1980 after 31 years of use.<ref name="Carner Chronology" /> In 1981, Adams performed with Rein de Graaff's trio,
===Leg injury and end of career===
Adams' life was severely altered by the leg injury he sustained in December 1983, which was caused by his car's parking brake becoming disengaged on his slanted driveway.
Adams was a [[chain smoker]] for most of his life.<ref>Carner, G. (2012). Pepper Adams' Joy Road: An Annotated Discography. Germany: Scarecrow Press, p. 492</ref> While in Sweden in March 1985, he visited a
A benefit concert was held for Adams on September 29, 1985, in New York City that featured [[Dizzy Gillespie]], [[Frank Foster (jazz musician)|Frank Foster]], [[Kenny Burrell]], [[Tommy Flanagan]], and the [[Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra]], among others.<ref name="Carner Chronology" /> Despite his various health issues, Adams continued pushing himself professionally, which was exemplified by his stretch in Dublin, Ireland, April 4–6, 1986, when he played five gigs over three days with five different bands.<ref name="Carner Chronology" />
Adams was diagnosed with [[pleurisy]] in April 1986 and died of lung cancer in [[Brooklyn, New York]], on September 10, 1986.<ref name=nyt>[https://www.nytimes.com/1986/09/11/obituaries/pepper-adams-dead-baritone-saxophonist.html "Pepper Adams Dead; Baritone Saxophonist"], ''New York Times'', 11 September 1986</ref> His final performance took place on July 2, 1986, at the [[Spectrum (Montreal)|Spectrum]] in Montreal as part of the [[Montreal Jazz Festival]].<ref name="Carner Chronology" /> Before counting off the first song, he received a strong standing ovation from the crowd.<ref name="Carner Chronology" />▼
▲Adams was diagnosed with [[pleurisy]] in April 1986 and died of lung cancer in [[Brooklyn, New York]], on September 10, 1986.<ref name=nyt>[https://www.nytimes.com/1986/09/11/obituaries/pepper-adams-dead-baritone-saxophonist.html "Pepper Adams Dead; Baritone Saxophonist"], ''New York Times'', 11 September 1986</ref> His final performance took place on July 2, 1986, at the [[Spectrum (Montreal)|Spectrum]] in Montreal as part of the [[Montreal Jazz Festival]].
==Style==
Pepper Adams was in many ways the antithesis of near-contemporary baritone players [[Gerry Mulligan]] and [[Serge Chaloff]], who favored melodic [[cool jazz]].
Throughout his career, Adams consistently chose musical expression over large paychecks, as "[he] repeatedly recalled with great satisfaction his decision to play [in groups focused on musical expression] rather than to change his style to secure better paying jobs with now little-known white musicians".<ref name="New Grove Jazz" /> A large part of Adams' appeal was that "[he] had the remarkable ability to blow low with enormous power and swing, becoming a hefty addition to big band reed sections. He also was an equally dominant voice in small groups, adding ferocious excitement and stamina".<ref name=JazzWax.com>{{cite web|last=Myers|first=Marc|title=Complete Works of Pepper Adams|url=http://www.jazzwax.com/2012/09/complete-works-of-pepper-adams.html|work=JazzWax.com| Despite his prowess at hard bop, Adams was also adept at ballads and slower numbers. An example is his contribution to the album ''[[Chet (Chet Baker album)|Chet]]'' (1958) including a solo on the bittersweet "[[Alone Together (1932 song)|Alone Together]]" that critic Dave Nathan described as "one of the album's high points".<ref name="Allmusic">Nathan, D. [{{
==Awards and honors==
He won ''[[
==Discography==
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*''[[Reflectory (album)|Reflectory]]'' ([[Muse Records|Muse]], 1978)
*''[[Be-Bop?]]'' ([[Musica Records|Musica]], 1979) with [[Barry Altschul]]
*''[[The Master (Pepper Adams album)|The Master
*''[[Urban Dreams]]'' ([[Palo Alto Records|Palo Alto]], 1981)
*''[[California Cookin']]'' (Interplay, 1983)
*''[[Conjuration: Fat Tuesday's Session]]'' ([[Reservoir Records|Reservoir]], 1983)
*''[[Generations (Pepper Adams and Frank Foster album)|Generations]]'' ([[Muse Records|Muse]], 1985) with [[Frank Foster (jazz musician)|Frank Foster]]
*''[[The Adams Effect]]'' ([[Uptown Records (jazz)|Uptown]], 1985 [1988])
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*''[[Ridin' High (Maynard Ferguson album)|Ridin' High]]'' (Enterprise, 1967)
'''With [[
* ''Hot Knepper and Pepper'' (Progressive, 1978 [1980])
'''With [[Jimmy Forrest (musician)|Jimmy Forrest]]'''
* ''[[Soul Street (album)|Soul Street]]'' (Prestige, 1958 [1962])
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'''With [[Dizzy Gillespie]]'''
*''[[Live at the Village Vanguard (Dizzy Gillespie album)|Live at the Village Vanguard]]'' (Solid State, 1968)
'''With [[Bobby Hackett]]'''
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'''With [[Johnny "Hammond" Smith|Johnny Hammond]]'''
*''[[Wild Horses Rock Steady]]'' (Kudu, 1971)
*''[[The Prophet (album)|The Prophet]]'' (Kudu, 1972)
'''With [[Barry Harris]]'''
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'''With [[The Thad Jones/ Mel Lewis Orchestra]]'''
*''[[Opening Night (album)|Opening Night]]'' (Alan Grant Presents, 1966)
*''[[Presenting Thad Jones/Mel Lewis and the Jazz Orchestra]]'' (Solid State, 1966)
*''[[Presenting Joe Williams and Thad Jones/Mel Lewis, the Jazz Orchestra]]'' (Solid State, 1966)
*''[[Live at the Village Vanguard (The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra album)|Live at the Village Vanguard]]'' (Solid State, 1967)
*''[[The Big Band Sound of Thad Jones/Mel Lewis featuring Miss Ruth Brown]]'' (Solid State, 1968)
*''[[Monday Night]]'' (Solid State, 1968)
*''[[Basle, 1969]]'' (TCB Music, 1969)
*''[[Consummation (The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra album)|Consummation]]'' (
*''[[Suite for Pops]]'' (A&M Horizon, 1972)
*''[[Live in Tokyo (The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra album)|Live in Tokyo]]'' (Denon Jazz, 1974)
*''[[Potpourri (The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra album)|Potpourri]]'' (Philadelphia International, 1974)
*''[[Thad Jones/Mel Lewis and Manuel De Sica]]'' (Pausa, 1974)
*''[[New Life (Jones / Lewis album)|New Life]]'' (A&M / Horizon, 1976)
*''[[Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra with Rhoda Scott]]'' (Barclay (France), 1976)
*''[[Live in Munich (The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra album)|Live in Munich]]'' (Horizon, 1976)
*''[[It Only Happens Every Time]]'' (EMI/Inner City, 1977)
'''With [[Stan Kenton]]'''
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*''[[A Sure Thing]]'' (Blue Note, 1962)
*''[[Boss Horn]]'' (Blue Note, 1966)
*''[[Heads Up! (Blue Mitchell album)|Heads Up!]]'' (Blue Note, 1967)
'''With The Mitchells: [[Red Mitchell]], [[Whitey Mitchell]], Blue Mitchell and [[André Previn]]'''
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* ''[[Dedication!]]'' (Prestige, 1970, rec. 1961), issued as ''[[Minor Mishap]]'' (Black Lion, 1989) under [[Freddie Hubbard]]'s name
*''[[Honeybuns]]'' (Atlantic, 1965)
*''[[Introducing Duke Pearson's Big Band]]'' (Blue Note, 1967)
*''[[Now Hear This (Duke Pearson album)|Now Hear This]]'' (Blue Note, 1968)
'''With [[Houston Person]]'''
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===Live recordings released posthumously===
*''Live in Europe'' ([[Marge Records|Marge]] (F), 1977) with the Georges Arvanitas Trio<ref name="autogenerated2005">{{cite web
*''Pepper Adams Live'' (aka ''Live Jazz by the Sea'') (1977), live in California
*''California Cookin''' (1983), live in California
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==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Pepper Adams}}
{{Authority control}}
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[[Category:Muse Records artists]]
[[Category:Palo Alto Records artists]]
[[Category:Deaths from lung cancer in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Riverside Records artists]]
[[Category:20th-century American
[[Category:American male saxophonists]]
[[Category:Jazz musicians from Michigan]]
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[[Category:The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra members]]
[[Category:Reservoir Records artists]]
[[Category:Uptown Records (jazz) artists]]
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