Adams Biography Now Available

  

Reflectory has been available for a month at this site:

https://www.pepperadams.com/Reflectory/index.html.

I want to thank those of you who were the first to

purchase my 37-year labor of love. I certainly hope

you’re enjoying it: the text, the photographs, and the

incredible music links. Please let me know what you

think of it. Laurent Briffaux in France did (see below),

and Glenn Wilson emailed me to say that he’s digging

the info about Detroit. There’s a lot of it!

I’m just about done correcting those pesky typos that

surfaced in the First Edition. The Revised Version will

soon replace the First Edition, and I’ll be using it for

future sales and reviews, and for what I’ll be reading on

the audiobook version that I expect to tackle this Spring.

I recently hired a PR firm to promote Reflectory. Word of mouth, and Facebook and Twitter posts only go

so far. As a result, I’m expecting a flurry of reviews in the

next few months, which I’ll share with you as they get

published.

I did an hour-long interview with Andrew Hadro at

jazzbarisax.com that should be posted soon. Also, I’ve

organized a panel discussion about Adams with fourteen

musicians from the U.S., Canada, and England that will

take place on Sunday, December 12. You can watch it live

at 2pm Eastern Time and send chat questions, or wait for

it to be posted on YouTube. I’ll post information about it in

early December. 

Here’s Briffaux’s lovely review, one of my first buyers:

Le titre lui-même par sa mise en abime est l'essence du

livre. L'auteur, ami du saxophoniste Pepper Adams à la

fin de sa vie, lui avait promis de compléter et de publier

son histoire. Carner a fait bien mieux: pièce par pièce,

morceaux par morceaux, il lui construit un monument.

Livre-monde, on retrouve au fil des pages les stars et les

passants, les anecdotes et les aventures de toute une

scène. Impossible de ne pas y voir des personnages déjà

rencontrés, et de pas entendre l'écho de mélodies familières.

Chaotique et brillante, c'est la vie de celui qui cherche,

doute et parfois éclaire un instant votre propre vérité

intérieure. Reflectory pose un nouveau standard pour les

livres qui voudront traiter d'un musicien.

 

The title says it all, and works as an infinite mirroring device.

The author, a friend of saxophonist Pepper Adams in the last

years of his life, had promised to complete his story and publish

it. Carner did much better: piece by piece, track by track, he

built him a monument. In this meta-book, we meet throughout

the pages the stars and the passers-by, the anecdotes and the

adventures of a whole scene. It is impossible not to connect with

characters already seen, and not to hear the echo of familiar

melodies. Chaotic and brilliant, this is the life of one who seeks,

doubts and illuminates for a moment your own inner self.

Reflectory sets a new standard for books on a musician's life.

Moreover, it tells the urgency, the beauty and the luxuriance of life.

 

Pepper Doings, April 2021

 

Before signing off on Chapter Three, my account of

Adams’s experience in the US Army, I decided to send

my final draft to a reader for his feedback. Although this

is one of my shortest chapters, I think I’ve been dealing

with this material for such a long time that perhaps I’ve

lost some perspective. Hopefully he’ll agree that it’s in

OK shape and, apart from some minor changes, I can

finally put it to bed.

I started a demanding full-time job five weeks ago and

my progress on the book has been slowed down. I still

think I’m on track to publish in September, but the most

important thing is to ensure that it’s in the best shape

that I can muster.

I’m excited to report that a very significant cache of

Pepper tapes and interviews have recently been trans-

ferred to a producer/musician who is restoring them,

releasing some of it to the public, and making all of it

available to me for study. Although I can’t yet reveal

the source of the material or its newfound recipient,

I’ve been aware of the collection for over thirty years

and am so excited that I’ll soon have a chance to

analyze the material and consider it for inclusion in

the biography. Typically, all of Pepper’s interviews

yield gems, so it’s likely that I’ll discover something

new for the book. 

The Adams discography has been updated with new

discoveries: https://www.pepperadams.com/JoyRoad/DiscoUpdates.pdf 

Yesterday I had a wonderful conversation with the

eminent blogger Michael Steinman. He’s perhaps the

first person who really understands what I’ve tried to

do with the narrative structure of the biography, and

who has the breadth of knowledge about the subject

to truly grasp how I tried to diverge from the typical birth-

to-grave, tragedy or romance, cliched approach. After

our call, he wrote this wonderful blurb that I’ll be using

as advance praise

(https://www.pepperadams.com/Reflectory/AdvancePraise.pdf):

Most jazz biographies are predictable chronologies of gigs

and recordings, friendships and rivalries, kindness and cruelty.

We know how they start; we know how they end. Carner’s

admiring multi-dimensional portrait of Pepper Adams is a

delightful corrective. Irresistibly, it floats from story to story.

I couldn't wait to find out what happens next. Even if readers

know Pepper only as a bracing, lovely sound, before we are

ten pages in we are happily encountering him as a fully-

rounded person, reading Yeats, eating ribs, impatient with

cliche, searching and finding wherever he goes. It takes lung

power to play the baritone saxophone: this biography has the

breath of life.   

 

– Michael Steinman

Author, Jazz Lives blog

 

Next weekend I’ll get a jump on Chapter Four corrections.

Happy springtime. 

Audiobook Anyone?

 

After a year of pleading, I finally acquired five tunes from

Adams’s November 16, 1985 gig from the Bassment (yes,

that’s the correct spelling) in Saskatoon, Canada. Already

deep into his cancer, Adams sounds tremendous. That

further suggests to me that he played superbly throughout

at least February, 1986, after which his illness and

medical treatments appreciably wore him down. Unfortunately,

there are precious few Adams audience recordings after that

time, though the few that exist suggest a lessening of his

powers in his last eight months of life.

Earlier in the month, I decided to pour through one last box of

notes, sorted as “Analysis,” that I had been saving. I wondered

if I made any observations that might be germane to the

biography, whether overtly or even obliquely. I turned out that,

yes, I had a few scraps of paper with notes on them that I could

actually use. Some regarded comments I scribbled about certain

recordings. I also discovered at long last three missing pages from

my Adams interview transcript in which he talks about his fondness

for Francis Poulenc and William Walton. I was able to add that, as

well as some notes about the diminished scale and Clark Terry’s

comment to me about Ellington’s “Jack the Bear” and how that’s

the likely source for Pepper's composing for bass and baritone as

two voices. 

Lastly, I received from one of my final readers a few minor corrections

regarding the biography's front matter. I’m awaiting his critique of

Chapters 1-4 (1930-1955), plus another reader’s critique of Chapters

5-12 (1956-1986). Work still continues on the book’s directory of 450

tunes. It’s really incredible to have a kind of “Best of” collection all in

one place, without having to scramble for tracks on an LP, cassette, or

CD. I think you’re going to be amazed by this addition to the eBook.

I’m still on track for a September, 2021 release.  

To that aim, in the last week I tightened up my Prologue and first

chapter with some editorial improvements. I’ve also decided (I had

forgotten about it) to produce an audiobook version of the biography.

Perhaps that will take away some of the sting of it only at first being

released as an eBook? Can anyone advise me on how to go about

this? Is iTunes or Amazon the preferred vehicle? Any idea on pricing? 

I’ve got some upcoming Zoom lectures at Ball State University, the

University of Wisconsin, Appalachian State, and the University of

Missouri. If any are recorded, I may share them at pepperadams.com.

All the best!

 

Reflectory due in September

 

The improved hi-def version of Pete Lukas’s Reflectory book cover has been

finished and it looks great. Other last-minute details are shaping up before

publication of my 400-page Adams biography. I’ve gone through a final editing

pass of Chapters 1-3, with 4 awaiting. After that’s done, “Ascent,” the first half

of the biography will be done, though I’ll likely read it one last time as a hard

copy. 

I’m awaiting one reader’s comments, who will soon be starting his look at my

second half. Then I’ll  incorporate his recommendations, send it off to another

reader, then read through them twice before printing it as a hard copy and

making my absolutely final pass.

Two other things need to be done before publication. First, I have to embed

all the music links in the text. Before they’re active, they have to be posted at

pepperadams.com

in a directory, only available to future purchasers of the book. Lastly, the text

needs to be formatted as per Lulu’s instructions to produce their version of an

eBook. A summer or September publication date is starting to look likely. 

Here’s some advance praise:

https://www.pepperadams.com/Reflectory/AdvancePraise.pdf

Pre-Christmas Doings

 

Gosh, the year is soon coming to an end, something I think everyone

is eager to see. I've ben busy acclimating to the dry, high-altitude 

climate of Utah. It's quite beautiful and rugged here, but I'm not able

to enjoy the perks of living in a city due to COVID. Other than things

being close by and convenient, I can't visit the museums, or partake in 

the restaurants or nightlife.

Maybe that's partly a good thing? In the last few weeks, I've had the 

time to revise my entire Pepper Adams biography, making, in some cases, 

appreciable improvements. It's great to get some distance from the 

manuscript, thereby catching errors and improving its readability. I'm only 

waiting for the responses of a few readers before I begin formatting the book 

for publication. That process includes posting a number of previously 

unknown recordings to YouTube, and linking them to the book. Infusing the 

text with numerous links to the music I'm discussing is one advantage of 

producing an eBook. At around 400 pages, I'm envisioning a $19.99 price.

Is that a good value? Please let me know.

In the meantime, enjoy these newly restored videos, posted at pepperadams.com

They are four superb solos that Adams did in Montreal in 1978: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Um8G4Hadg-0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPHtIdTcj2w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kb_f80ke1aE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erg6Egbwc3o

After Three Years, It's Done!

© Gary Carner. Copyright Protected. All rights reserved.

Sorry for the delay in posting this. I’m very pleased to finally report that I have completed writing the Pepper Adams biography. After a few more rounds of editing of my last three chapters, it’s now in the hands of my readers to make suggestions and corrections.

The first four chapters will make up the first eBook. Once I hear about chapters 3 and 4 from my final two reviewers, I’ll be ready to format it for publication on lulu.com

It’s been a fascinating journey, and I’m so happy it’s in the rear-view mirror. Here’s Adams’s comments about Thelonious Monk from Chapter 10:

Monk was “wildly eccentric,” said Adams. “and so much so, and so unstable, that I think crazy is probably apt, which by no means is to denigrate what he did musically, because he knew what he was doing.”

And his personal eccentricities, I think, sometimes tended to hide the fact that he was not your untaught genius-off-the-streets type. He was a thoroughly schooled, grounded musician, and knew just what he was doing. But what he was doing was a lot different from what other people were doing, but he had sound musical reasons for that. But his behavior patterns were sometimes so wildly eccentric that I think it gave many people the impression that this all carried over into his music. But to me they were two very separate compartments of the person. His music is highly individual, but it’s fine music, and it makes sense in a very individual manner, which I think is its great value in that it is so different. But he himself could be wildly unstable, irrational, very unpredictable to be around. I never saw him violent, at any rate, but I’ve seen him very obstinate!

COVID-19 Time

I hope this finds everyone healthy and well amidst the global COVID-19

pandemic. My university lecture tour in the Midwestern U.S. has been

cancelled. In its place, I’ve spent all four weeks listening to all of Pepper

Adams’s solos from 1956-1969. Quite a lot of material, and lots of

surprising things I’ve discovered that I’ll be discussing in the second half

of the biography.

Because of COVID, the publication date of the Pepper Adams biography

has been delayed  too, as I await my final readers’ suggestions while they

deal with the crisis in their own way. Thus far, their very useful suggestions for

improving the text have necessitated tweaks and rewrites, with others no doubt

forthcoming. Although it’s kept me from formatting the ebook and finally making

it available to the public, the eventual book will be much better indeed.

Since I haven’t yet turned to actually formatting the ebook, I’m not sure if I can

embed music links in the text itself, as I’ve originally planned. With this in mind,

as a backup plan I’ve decided to assemble an appendix with all the music links in

it, organized by title. Here’s how some of the links found in Chapter 8 look thus far:

Appendix: Selected Music

Links

Soon after Pepper Adams moved to New York City in January, 1956, he became

a first-call section player, who participated on many superb recordings in which he

wasn’t asked to solo. Because his dates as a leader and his saxophones solos are

given primacy throughout the book, below, for the sake of contrast, are some of his

notable projects in which he does not solo. Please also note that on many of the

recordings mentioned in the book where Adams is asked to take a solo, there are so

many other great performances on those dates in which he only functions as a

section player. The remaining eighty percent or so of the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis

Orchestra’s extraordinary body of work would be a good starting point.

A Child Is Born (Chapter 8, 17 May 1975)

A Child Is Born (Chapter 8, 13 December 1975)

A Child Is Born (Chapter 8, 22 February 1977)

A Child Is Born (Chapter 8, 28 February 1977)

Afternoon in Paris (Chapter 8, 17 May 1975)

A Secret (Chapter 8, 8 November 1972)

Alone Together (Chapter 8, 28 July 1974)

Autumn Leaves Chapter 8, 28 July 1974)

Bouncing with Bud (Chapter 8, 10 September 1973)

Bossa Nouveau (Chapter 8, 12 December 1975)

Cherokee (Chapter 8, 17 May 1975)

Civilization and Its Discontents (Chapter 8, 10 September 1973)

Civilization and Its Discontents (Chapter 8, 1 May, 1977)

Civilization and Its Discontents (Chapter 8, 9 February 1975)

Civilization and Its Discontents (Chapter 8, 20 April 1975)

Donna Lee (Chapter 8, 23 November 1975)

E-7/A7 Vamp (Chapter 8, 24 November 1975)

East St. Louis Toodle-Oo (Chapter 8, 17 July 1977)

Ephemera (Chapter 8, 10 September 1973)

Ephemera (Chapter 8, 17 May 1975)

Falling in Love with Love (Chapter 8, 17 May 1975)

Falling in Love with Love (Chapter 8, 13 December 1975)

Did You Call Her Today (Chapter 8, 12 December 1975)

Hellure (Chapter 8, 10 September 1973)

Hellure (Chapter 8, 24 November 1975)

I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart (Chapter 8, 17 May 1975)

In a Mellow Tone (Chapter 8, 1 May 1977)

In a Sentimental Mood (Chapter 8, 6 November 1972)

In a Sentimental Mood (Chapter 8, 24 November 1975)

Jitterbug Waltz (Chapter 8, 5 June 1970)

Jitterbug Waltz (Chapter 8, 10 September 1973)

Julian (Chapter 8, 13 August 1975)

Julian (Chapter 8, 20 June 1976)

Jumpin’ Punkins (Chapter 8, 17 July 1977)

Lady Luck  (Chapter 8, 13 August 1975)

Main Stem (Chapter 8, 17 July 1977)

Mean What You Say (Chapter 8, 9 February 1975)

Mean What You Say (Chapter 8, 23 November 1975)

Mr. Wonderful (Chapter 8, 5 June 1970)

On Green Dolphin Street (Chapter 8, 20 April 1975)

Patrice (Chapter 8, 10 September 1973) 

Quiet Lady (Chapter 8, 10 September 1973)

Quiet Lady (Chapter 8, 21 June 1974)

Quiet Lady (Chapter 8, 9 February 1975)

Royal Garden Blues (Chapter 8, 21 June 1974)

Sophisticated Lady (Chapter 8, 9 February 1975)

Sophisticated Lady (Chapter 8, 20 April 1975)

Sophisticated Lady (Chapter 8, 1 May, 1977)

Stella by Starlight (Chapter 8, 10 September 1971)

Straight, No Chaser (Chapter 8, 21 June 1974)

Sweet Sue (Chapter 8, 12 December 1975)

Three and One (Chapter 8, 5 June 1970)

Three Little Words (Chapter 8, 9 February 1975)

’Tis (Chapter 8, 13 August 1975)

’Tis (Chapter 8, 12 December 1975)

’Tis (Chapter 8, two versions from 20 April 1975)

Twelfth and Pingree (Chapter 8, 20 June 1976)

What Is This Thing Called Love (Chapter 8, 20 April 1975)

Witchcraft (Chapter 8, 12 December 1975)

Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams (Chapter 8, 24 November 1975)

Lastly, I’m also very pleased with the new book covers that Pete Lukas has

designed. He’s also added a drawing of Adams to my dedication page. Here’s some

info on the book:

https://www.pepperadams.com/Reflectory/index.html