The Main Line of Resistance

© Gary Carner. Copyright Protected. All rights reserved.

Today begins Memorial Day weekend in the U.S. My heartfelt sympathies go out to all those who have lost a loved one in a war or have suffered due to injured or psychologically scarred friends or family members. Pepper Adams, for his part, saw plenty of suffering in Korea and knew musicians who were killed there. In fact, Korea was such a horrific experience for him that he chose not to discuss it when asked. Bettter not to bring up those memories and re-experience the trauma. Can you imagine how much different jazz history would be if Pepper, Frank Foster, Tommy Flanagan, Elvin Jones or Bill Evans, to name just a few, were killed in Korea?

Regarding my continuing research into the Korean War and Pepper's role in the U.S. Army, I heard back from Al Gould, who was in Pepper's platoon. He said that their 10th Special Services gigs on 4-9 March 1953 and 16-20 March 1953 were in "forward areas" near the MLR (Main Line of Resistance). "We played shows within 500 yards back of the MLR," said Gould. "USO Civilian Shows played 20 miles back of the MLR," he said. 

While stationed in Korea, Adams took many photographs that were developed as transparency slides. He marked each of his boxes of slides with dates and general locations. A few were marked "LP," a term unknown to me or Al Gould. Thanks to Gould, he researched this with a retired 2-Star General. "LP" refers to Listening Post. "A Listening Post was very dangerous duty, quite often slightly in front of the MLR," said Gould. "We would not have played loud shows there with the enemy all around us," he said.

For context, here's the brief but very informative Wikipedia article on the MLR:

"Main Line of Resistance, or MLR is a military term describing the most important defensive position of an army facing an opposing force over an extended front. It does not consist of one trench or line of pillboxes, but rather a system, of varying degrees of complexity, of fighting positions and obstacles to enemy advance. The MLR first came into use during World War I, after fighting became stalemated across northern France. The French and British on one side, and the Germans on the other, built elaborate fortified defensive positions. These were characterized by extensive use of barbed wire, entrenchments and underground bunkers to protect their troops from enemy fire, and defeat enemy attacks. The depth of such positions could range from several hundred to several thousand meters, and in a few cases much farther. If the position was held in great depth, a screening line of strongpoints and fortified outposts -- designed to slow and disorganize an enemy attack -- might be constructed forward of the MLR, and a reserve line built behind it. The most famous and elaborate MLR of World War I was the Siegfried Line (part of the longer German Hindenburg Line), across parts of northern France. During World War II, in which combat was relatively fluid, the term 'Main Line of Resistance,' was used less often, and the positions the term described were usually less deep and complex than in World War I. However, there were exceptions, including the French Maginot Line, the German Atlantic Wall and Westwall (Siegfried Line to the Allies), as well as the Soviet defenses at the Battle of Kursk. After the Korean War became static in 1951, MLR described the defensive positions of the U.N. Eighth Army, a series of trenches and bunkers extending east to west across the Korean peninsula."

                             (Photo courtesy of Carla Lehmeier. (c) Carla Lehmeier)

Adams Biography, Straight Ahead

© Gary Carner. Copyright Protected. All rights reserved.

This week has been a busy one for me. Apart from the heavy demands of my day job, all of my free time has been put into polishing up Chapter 1 of Pepper's biography. For the last six weeks or so I've been thinking about Pepper's boyhood and how significant elders stepped in after the early death of his father. The music of Duke Ellington and Rex Stewart (one of those elders) has been playing non-stop in my car--and, now, constantly in my head--as the unofficial soundtrack to my work. 

The first chapter is in tip-top shape now, though I endless tweak things (a writer's curse) while I await word from my gifted readers Ron Ley and John Gennari. For the Prologue, they recommended other topics to discuss, as well as grammatical issues to repair. I expect much the same this time around. Then, it's back to writing.

Next week I'll start listening to Pepper's Duke Ellington 8-track material, then eventually move to his Charlie Parker and Tommy Flanagan compilations. Bird, of course, was a huge influence on Pepper, but so was Flanagan. Tenor saxophonist Bill Perkins pointed out in an article in Cadence that Pepper was playing Flanagan lines. Can anyone recommend specific Flanagan solos that I should check out that are markedly similar to Pepper's playing style? I know that Chicago drummer George Fludas felt that the head of Pepper's composition "Conjuration" was very much written in a graceful Flanagan/Detroit feel, but how about some solos to compare? So far, I'm only hearing a similarity when they play fast double-time passages.

While tweaking Chapter 1, I'll move on to researching Chapter 2. That chapter will involve discussing Pepper's father, his side of the family and Pepper's early days in Rochester, New York. It will probably dovetail into a long discussion about Detroit. I'll need to go back and listen again to many interviews I conducted more than twenty years ago. That will be lots of fun and quite nostalgic. I shared many phone calls with so many great musicians, many of whom are no longer with us. In addition, I'll be reaquainting myself with the music of Coleman Hawkins, Don Byas, Art Tatum, Wardell Gray and Sonny Stitt, all important early influences on Pepper. I don't expect a first draft of Chapter 2 for quite some time, but you never know!

From Wollensak with Love

© Gary Carner. Copyright Protected. All rights reserved.

Below are the titles on Pepper's Rex Stewart 8-track tape. Thanks again to Atlanta bassist Neil Starkey for so ably dubbing it for me. Pepper prepared this and many other 8-tracks for his own amusement while driving around or to and from gigs. When I met Pepper in 1984 he may have still had his very old Volvo with a stick shift. I'm not sure what car he was driving with the 8-track player. As for his 8-track home recorder, here's a link to a picture of his 3M Wollensak from my Instagram site:

https://instagram.com/p/rm4zHfpnj3/?taken-by=pepperadamsblog

Wollensak ceased production in 1972. That seems to be around the time that 8-tracks faded into oblivion. As I recall, I got my first cassette player in 1969. Was I excited! It was a Panasonic: a portable combination recorder/radio.

I've been loving listening to Rex with Ellington and others! He was such an inventive player. He's best known as a growl and half-valve cornetist in the Bubber Miley tradition. But he has his own arsenal of artificial notes. He was also a high-note player of tremendous skill, and one with enormous rhythmic and melodic resourcefulness. As Andrew Homzy recently wrote, "Rex is a treasure!"

Pepper denoted those recordings with Ellington with an asterisk. I'll adopt his convention.

Bulge Breaks*

Poor Bubber

Tea & Trumpets

Morrning Glory*

Rex' Time

Solid Old Man

Trumpet in Spades*

5 O'Clock Drag*

Love in My Heart

Subtle Slough

Chatterbox*

Dusk*

Buglle Call Rag

Boy Meets Horn*

I Know That You Know

Harlem Air Shaft*

My Sunday Gal

Zaza

What Am I Here For*

Fat Stuff Serenade

Montmartre

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea*

Digga Digga Doo

Pepper included live versions of Harlem Air Shaft and Boy Meets Horn (albeit at a slower tempo than what's commonly heard). The version of Subltle Slough is a masterpiece! If you want to hear an early 1940s big band groove, here it is.

                           Rex Stewart, (c) Valerie Wilmer

"Early Years" Is Updated!

© Gary Carner. Copyright Protected. All rights reserved.

This week I spent a lot of time reworking the first section of Pepper's chronology (1930-1958): http://www.pepperadams.com/Chronology/EarlyYears.pdf  This is the second one I've finished and posted in the last month. ("Thaddeus" was posted three weeks ago.) Getting the updated "Early Years" posted at pepperadams.com is important to me because I'm soon going to be writing Chapter 2 of Pepper's biography. That chapter will be about Detroit, the real center of Pepper's experience. I'll be covering the city's history, culture and jazz lineage to create a context for Adams' artistic flowering. Having an updated, fleshed out chronology helps me position things in time when I write.

I'm especially grateful to drummer Rudy Tucich. He's been a trusty guide to me all these years. I met Rudy in the late 1980s when he invited me to appear on his Detroit radio show "52nd Street." Woefully, the show was cancelled after a very long and influential run. Now, at 80 years old, he's still an invaluable source of information about Detroit. Tucich attended Cass Tech, worked with Pepper at Al's Record Mart in Detroit, and ran with a group of fine musicians, including Charles McPherson, that were the next wave of Detroit jazz musicians after Adams, Yusef Lateef, Donald Byrd, Paul Chambers, Tommy Flanagan, Bary Harris, Donald Byrd, Doug Watkins, Elvin Jones and the rest. Rudy knew everyone on the scene and was a witness to so much important Detroit musicial history. 

This past week Tucich helped me with the 1954 and 1955 parts of the chronology by advising me about the early history of the World Stage. That helped me figure out on what days the Blue Bird Inn and Klein's were dark, thus spurring me to figure out the final pieces of the puzzle of Pepper's wherabouts.

From pepperadams.com, here's "Early Years":

EARLY YEARS: 1930-1958

Posted in April, 2015. Please send updates, corrections or comments to info@pepperadams.com.

1930

Oct 8: Highland Park MI: Park Frederick Adams III is born at Highland Park General Hospital. His parents, Park Adams II and Cleo Marie Coyle, reside at 4695 Courville Road, Grosse Pointe Village, Michigan in suburban Detroit. See birth certificate at http://instagram.com/p/rmrBrDJnqf/?modal=true and photo at http://instagram.com/p/tuoEqwJnqT/?modal=true. 

1931

Fall: Grosse Pointe Village MI: As the effects of the Great Depression deepen, Adams’ father loses eight months of back salary and his employer goes bankrupt. Adams’ parents lose their house, then decide to separate temporarily so that Adams Sr. can search the U.S. for work while his wife and son relocate to his wife’s family farm near Columbia City, Indiana. See http://instagram.com/p/sAfZmyJngz/?modal=true and  http://instagram.com/p/sAemgwpnvO/?modal=true. 

1932

 ----   Columbia City IN: Adams lives at grandparents’ or uncle’s farm.

1933

 ----  Columbia City IN: Adams lives at grandparents’ or uncle’s farm and begins to play piano. See 1932.

1934

 ---- Columbia City IN: Adams lives at grandparents’ or uncle’s farm. See 1933. He continues playing the piano and attends a rural one-room schoolhouse. See http://instagram.com/p/r65xgSpnu2/?modal=true. 

Summer: Rome NY: Adams and his mother move to upstate New York to reunite the family after a three year breach. Joining them was Adams’ father and Mina Elizabeth Adams, Pepper’s half-sister from his father’s first marriage. Living nearby was Adams’ paternal grandmother, Frances Cleveland Adams (bJuly 13, 1863). Adams’ father has his first heart attack prior to Mina’s return from Miami, Florida.

cAug: Rome NY: The Adams move to 806 Jerris (or Jervis) Avenue. 

Sept-Dec: Rome NY: Adams’ half-sister, Mina Adams, attends 12th grade at Rome Free Academy, where she meets George G. Gifford, her future husband. See photo at http://instagram.com/p/sAi8I_JnnJ/?modal=true.  

1935

Jan: Rochester NY: The Adams’ move to 627 Park Avenue in time for Mina Adams to enroll at Monroe High School.

June 25: Rochester NY: Mina Adams graduates from Monroe High School.

Summer: Utica NY: The Adamses move two hours east of Rochester, near Rome.

Sept: Utica NY: Pepper Adams begins Kindergarten.

1936

 ----   Utica NY: Pepper Adams listens to Fats Waller’s daily 15-minute afternoon radio show.

Sept: Utica NY: Adams begins 1st Grade.

1937

Summer: Irondequoit NY: The Adams family move to 128 Belcoda Drive. 

Sept: Irondequoit NY: Adams begins 2nd grade. Sight-reading is a part of the curriculum.

Oct 14: Terre Haute IN: Mina Adams, Adams’ half-sister, marries George G. Gifford.

1938

 ----    Irondequoit NY: Adams listens to John Kirby Sextet’s Sunday radio broadcasts.

Sept: Irondequoit NY: Adams begins 3rd Grade.

1939

Summer: Irondequoit NY: Adams’ family moves to 190 Hoover Road.

Sept: Irondequoit NY: Adams begins 4th Grade. Adams sells candy and cigarettes door-to-door after school to help his family pay for bare essentials.

1940

 ----  Irondequoit NY: Adams hears late night Fletcher Henderson Big Band radio broadcasts, originating from Nashville, with trumpet soloist Willie Wells.

early Apr: Rochester NY: Adams and his mother go downtown to attend the Capitol Theater opening of My Little Chickadee starring W.C. Fields and Mae West. The movie opened on 4 April. This is one of the only times in Adams’ life that he attends a movie premiere. See http://instagram.com/p/voR7M_png6/?modal=true and  http://instagram.com/p/r695ndpnlA/?modal=true. 

May 19: Irondequoit NY: Adams’ father (bJanuary 19, 1896) dies from his second heart attack at age 44. He’s buried besides his father, Nathaniel Adams (bApril 15, 1858, d1929), at New Union Cemetery on Happy Valley Road in Verona, New York. See http://instagram.com/p/voBqwFpnkF/?modal=true.

Summer: Rome NY: Frances Cleveland Adams, Pepper Adams’ paternal grandmother (the wife of Nathaniel Adams) dies. She’s buried in Verona beside her husband and son. See http://instagram.com/p/sAXo7oJniW/?modal=true. 

Sept: Irondequoit NY: Adams begins 5th Grade.

1941

Sept: Greece NY: Adams begins 6th Grade at Central School #1 on Hoover Road. It was also known as Hoover Drive Middle School or the Willis N. Britton School. Adams’ mother teaches Second Grade there. Rochester schools loaned musical instruments to any students interested in playing them but instruction wasn’t provided. One could gain entrance into the school band, taught by Prescott Whitney, if they learned how to play on their own. Adams first borrows a trumpet, then a trombone, before settling on a clarinet, and joins the school band. See http://instagram.com/p/sA0pWvpnlB/?modal=true and  http://instagram.com/p/voMykSpnt5/?modal=true. 

1942

 ----  Rochester NY: Adams visits regularly with Everett Gates at Gates’ home, where they have dinner, listen to jazz recordings and discuss music theory. See http://instagram.com/p/t20Ku4pnv3/?modal=true. 

Summer: Seattle: Adams travels by car from Rochester, New York to Seattle with his half-sister Mina, her husband George Gifford and their first child Gary (b c1939). They stay in Seattle at the home of Harold and Marie Gifford (George’s older brother) with their son Skip. Adams spends some of his evenings alone, touring the city or seeking out the local music scene, often returning after midnight. After his mother threatens to have George and Mina arrested if Adams isn’t returned home, Adams is put on a Greyhound Bus back to Rochester.

Sept: Greece NY: Begins 7th Grade at Central School #1. See http://instagram.com/p/voMykSpnt5/?modal=true. 

1943

Jan 8: Brighton NY: St. Louis Cardinals’ World Series baseball star Pepper Martin creates a local media sensation by signing a contract to play and manage the Rochester Red Wings. The Red Wings was one of the Cardinals’ minor league affiliates and with whom Martin had played in 1930 just before joining the Major Leagues. Adams acquires his lifelong nickname "Pepper" soon after Adams’ schoolmates see Martin’s picture on the front page of the Rochester newspapers and recognize a facial similarity between the two of them. See http://instagram.com/p/ttEbrGpnkE/?all_comments_on_ad=undefined. 

Sept 22: Greece NY: Pepper begins 8th Grade at Central School #1 while living at 195 Rye Road with his remarried mom and step-father, Harold Hopkins. Hopkins worked for Langie Coal Company. See http://instagram.com/p/tysNGAJnqI/?modal=true and http://instagram.com/p/voMykSpnt5/?modal=true.

Oct 1: Greece NY: Adams’ brief short story is published in his hometown newspaper, The Greece Press. The article is very likely the first time "Pepper" was ever used for him or by him in print. See http://instagram.com/p/tsWDlcJnqE/?modal=true.

cFall: Rochester NY: Adams takes a bus after school to downtown Rochester to work three hours a day cutting boxes in the mail order room of a jazz specialty record store. Afterwards, he works as an usher in a theater until midnight. With his earnings Adams buys a tenor sax and begins emulating Coleman Hawkins and Don Byas.

1944

 -----  Rochester NY: Adams plays clarinet-piano duets with Meade Lux Lewis at the Golden Rooster. See http://instagram.com/p/r4a9zaJni6/?modal=true and http://instagram.com/p/rzg_QPJnsl/?modal=true. 

Jan 7-9: Rochester NY: Adams hears the Cootie Williams Orchestra (with Bud Powell on piano) at the RKO Temple Theater. See http://instagram.com/p/voQtudJnop/?modal=true. 

Mar 3-5: Rochester NY: Adams skips school to attend Duke Ellington’s entire run at the RKO Temple Theater. The Temple was a movie palace built in 1909 at 35 Clinton Avenue South in downtown Rochester. On the third and final evening of the engagement, Ellington trumpeter Rex Stewart was curious about the enthusiastic, short-haired thirteen-year-old kid he noticed sitting by himself each night in the balcony. Intrigued, Stewart made his way upstairs, introduced himself, then brought Adams backstage to meet Ellington’s illustrious musicians including Harry Carney. Soon thereafter Adams takes tenor sax lessons with Skippy Williams, the tenor saxophonist in Ellington’s band who first replaced Ben Webster. See http://instagram.com/p/voQWRFJnmB/?modal=true and  http://instagram.com/p/ulFqhrJnuk/?modal=true.

Summer: New York: Adams and his mother travel to New York to meet Bob Wilber at a Max Kaminsky gig at the Pied Piper.

Sept: Rochester NY: Adams begins 9th Grade at John Marshall High School while living at 160 Elmguard Street in suburban Greece NY. Greece had no high schools at the time. Students attended either John Marshall or Hilton High School. Adams plays in the John ​Marshall High School band. See http://instagram.com/p/tyuB3PJntF/?modal=true.

1945

mid year: Rochester NY: Adams meets Oscar Pettiford and Coleman Hawkins, and later Denzil Best and Thelonious Monk, when Hawkins’ quartet works a week gig.

Sept: Rochester NY: Adams begins 10th Grade at John Marshall High School. See http://instagram.com/p/tyuB3PJntF/?modal=true.

1946

Jan 1: Rochester NY: Off.

Jan 2-31: Rochester NY: Adams begins a steady, long-term gig at the Elite Dance Hall with a 6-piece group (three horns, three rhythm) led by former Lunceford trumpeter Ben "Smitty" Smith. Ralph Dickinson on tenor sax (later John Huggler) is in the ensemble with Teddy Lancaster on drums.

Feb 1-28: Rochester NY: Gig at the Elite Dance Hall. See 2-31 Jan.

Mar 1-31: Rochester NY: Gig at the Elite Dance Hall. See 1-28 Feb.

Apr 1-30: Rochester NY: Gig at the Elite Dance Hall. See 1-31 Mar.

May 1-31: Rochester NY: Gig at the Elite Dance Hall. See 1-30 Apr.

June 1-30: Rochester NY: Gig at the Elite Dance Hall. See 1-31 May.

July 1-31: Rochester NY: Gig at the Elite Dance Hall. See 1-30 June.

Aug 1-31: Rochester NY: Gig at the Elite Dance Hall. See 1-31 July.

Sept 1-30: Rochester NY: Gig at the Elite Dance Hall. See 1-31 Aug. Adams withdraws from school before beginning 11th Grade at Monroe High School because he was working six nights a week at the Elite. Adams is living at 196 Chestnut Street near the Eastman School of Music. Adams spends time listening to records with Bob Wilber, who was attending the Eastman School of Music. See http://instagram.com/p/r98zAKpnos/?modal=true and http://instagram.com/p/voD4XeJnhR/?modal=true. 

Oct 1-31: Rochester NY: Gig at the Elite Dance Hall. See 1-30 Sept.

Nov 1-27: Rochester NY: Gig at the Elite Dance Hall. See 1-31 Oct.

Nov 28: Rochester NY: Off.

Nov 29-30: Rochester NY: Gig at the Elite Dance Hall. See 1-27 Nov.

Dec 1-23: Rochester NY: Gig at the Elite Dance Hall. See 29-30 Nov.

Dec 24-25: Rochester NY: Off.

Dec 26-31: Rochester NY: Gig at the Elite Dance Hall. See 1-23 Dec.

1947

Jan 1: Rochester NY: Off.

Jan 2-31: Rochester NY: Gig at the Elite Dance Hall. See 26-31 Dec 1946.

Feb 1-28: Rochester NY: Gig at the Elite Dance Hall. See 2-31 Jan.

Mar 1-31: Rochester NY: Gig at the Elite Dance Hall. See 1-28 Feb.

Apr 1-30: Rochester NY: Gig at the Elite Dance Hall. See 1-31 Mar.

May 1-31: Rochester NY: Gig at the Elite Dance Hall. See 1-30 Apr.

June 1-30: Rochester NY: Gig at the Elite Dance Hall. See 1-31 May.

July: New York: Adams moves with his mother to New York City while their belongings are transported to Detroit. They live at the Edison Hotel for the month before moving to Detroit. She decided to relocate because elementary school teaching jobs paid far more in Detroit than in Rochester. Pepper meets Sidney Bechet, probably through Bob Wilber.

Aug: Detroit: Within three days after arriving in town Adams looks up Oscar Pettiford’s friend, Willie Wells, who was rooming with Fats Navarro. On clarinet Adams plays trios from the Arban trumpet book with Wells and Navarro. A few days later Adams meets Tommy Flanagan (at a jam session) and pianist Willie Anderson.

Sept 1-30: Detroit: Adams works on the assembly line at a Dodge automobile foundry, then at the Briggs Manufacturing plant assembling auto bodies. He records his first session with Oliver Shearer: a private recording at United Sound, with Willie Wells, Adams (on clarinet), Tommy Flanagan, et al. See https://www.flickr.com/photos/radiospike/2391588106/. 

Oct: Detroit: Possibly still working at Briggs Manufacturing. See Sept.

cNov 15-26: Detroit: Adams takes a six-week job as a Christmas extra in the Classical Music Record Department of Grinnell’s, Detroit’s largest music store (on Woodward Avenue). See http://instagram.com/p/undtLMJnv4/?modal=true. 

Nov 27: Detroit: Off.

Nov 28-30: Detroit: Adams works at Grinnell’s. See c15-26 Nov.

Dec 1-24: Detroit: Adams works at Grinnell’s. See 28-30 Nov. Adams buys with his Grinnell’s employee discount a used Bundy baritone saxophone that had come in on trade and soon after adopts it as his main instrument.

Dec 25: Detroit: Off.

late Dec: Detroit: Charlie Parker 5 plays El Sino. Adams may have attended this gig.

1948

Jan 1: Detroit: Off.

Jan 2-31: Detroit: As a baritone player Adams starts getting hired consistently for gigs. Adams works at the Plymouth Body Plant for a few months.

Feb 1-29: Detroit: Work at the Plymouth Body Plant. See Jan.

Mar 1-31: Detroit: Possible work at the Plymouth Body Plant. See Feb.

Summer: Detroit: Adams rehearses for a few months with Lucky Thompson’s 9-10 piece band. Tommy Flanagan, Kenny Burrell and Alvin Jackson are in the group. Because of its under-aged members, they only work a few gigs, including one on Michigan Avenue.

late Summer: Detroit: Wardell Gray returns with a new Berg Larsen tenor mouthpiece. Adams for several months had been experimenting with different mouthpieces but Gray’s tenor mouthpiece was the perfect solution. Adams mail-orders a comparable mouthpiece to fit his baritone sax for delivery in Windsor, Ontario because, at that time, it was not available for purchase in the U.S.

Aug 28: Detroit: The Junior Beboppers (Claire Roquemore tp; Bob Pierson, Charlie Gabriel ts; Pepper Adams bs; Clarence Beasley p; Bob Smith dm) perform with the rhythm section of Lionel Hampton’s big band (including Fats Navarro, Milt Buckner and Charles Mingus) at the Paradise Theater after Hampton’s band finishes their set. Navarro was so impressed with Rocquemore that he joined the group to trade solos with him.

Sept 1-30: Detroit: Adams begins studies as an English Literature major at Wayne University (later renamed Wayne State) after passing an entrance exam. He takes Freshman English in his first term. Adams pays tuition by continuing to work local jazz gigs. The Junior Beboppers (see 28 Aug), sponsored by Lionel Hampton, work a few shows in town with the Hampton band over a six week period.

Oct 1-31: Detroit: Adams continues his studies at Wayne University. The Junior Beboppers (see 28 Aug and 1-30 Sept), sponsored by Lionel Hampton, work a few shows in town with the Hampton band through mid-October. Later in the month Adams trades in his Bundy for a new Selmer "Balanced Action" B-flat baritone saxophone, the instrument he would play until 1978. He buys it at Ivan C. Kay’s. Adams brought Harry Carney to the store with him to check out the instrument. The Duke Ellington Orchestra was in town, playing the Paradise Theater, from 15-30 October. 

Nov 1-30: Detroit: Adams continues his studies at Wayne University.

Dec 1-10: Detroit: Adams continues his studies at Wayne University.

Dec 24-25: Detroit: Off.

1949

Jan 1: Detroit: Off. 

cmid Jan: Detroit: Adams continues his studies at Wayne University.

Feb 1-28: Detroit: Adams continues his studies at Wayne University. Adams sits in often with Charles Johnson’s trio (with Willie Wells and an unknown pianist).

Mar 1-31: Detroit: Adams continues his studies at Wayne University. Adams sits in often with Charles Johnson’s trio. See 1-28 Feb.

Apr 1-30: Detroit: Adams continues his studies at Wayne University. Adams sits in often with Charles Johnson’s trio. See 1-31 Mar.

May 1-10: Detroit: Adams continues his studies at Wayne University. Adams sits in often with Charles Johnson’s trio. See 1-30 Apr.

Sept: Detroit: Adams continues his studies at Wayne University.

Oct 1-31: Detroit: Adams continues his studies at Wayne University. Charlie Parker plays the Blue Bird with Phil Hill’s trio plus baritone saxophonist Tate Houston. Pepper might have attended this.

Nov: Detroit: Adams continues his studies at Wayne University.

early Dec: Detroit: Adams continues his studies at Wayne University.

Dec 24-25: Detroit: Off.

1950

Jan 1: Detroit: Off.

c mid Jan: Detroit: Adams continues studies at Wayne University.

Feb 1-28: Detroit: Adams continues his studies at Wayne University. Gig with Little John and his Merrymen at the Club Valley opposite Wardell Gray. Little John’s septet includes Little John Wilson (tp); Cleveland Willie Smith (as); Frank Foster; Pepper Adams; Barry Harris; Ali Mohammed Jackson (b); and various drummers including Lawrence “Jacktown” Jackson and Frant Gant.

Mar 1-31: Detroit: Adams continues his studies at Wayne University. Adams rehearses with Charles Johnson’s big band at Sunnie Wilson’s Show Bar. Personnel: Cleveland Willie Smith (as), Frank Foster, Pepper Adams, Barry Harris, Kenny Burrell, Paul Chambers and Billy Frazier (dm). They play only two or three gigs, probably because some of the musicians are underage.

Apr 1-31: Detroit: Adams continues his studies at Wayne University. Wardell Gray plays various local venues, such as Club Valley and the Bowl-o-Drome. Pepper might have attended these.

May: Detroit: Adams continues his studies at Wayne University.

Summer: Detroit: Charles Johnson date for Prize, with Yusef Lateef, Willie Anderson, et al.

Sept: Detroit: Adams continues his studies at Wayne University.

Oct 1-31: Detroit: Adams continues his studies at Wayne University.

Nov 1-31: Detroit: Adams continues his studies at Wayne University.

Dec: Detroit: Adams continues his studies at Wayne University.

Dec 24-25: Detroit: Off.

1951

Jan 1: Detroit: Off.

cMay: Detroit: Gig with Frank Rosolino and Kenny Burrell at the Bowl-o-Drome.

July 12: Detroit: Adams enlists in the U.S. Army. He was hoping to fail the induction physical and be found unfit for service. Flat feet or poor eyesight may have been his “maladies.”

July 13-14: Detroit: Off.

cJuly 15: Travel to Waynesville MO.

cJuly 16-31: Waynesville MO: Basic Training at Ft. Leonard Wood.

Aug 1-31: Waynesville MO: Basic Training at Ft. Leonard Wood. See c15-31 July.

Sept 1-15: Waynesville MO: Basic Training at Ft. Leonard Wood. See 1-31 Aug.

cSept 16-30: Waynesville MO: Work on base (Ft. Leonard Wood) with the 6th Armored Division’s Special Service Section. The band stays busy with rehearsals, parades and the full Armored Division playing "Retreat" every day at sundown (flag lowering). Bill Evans and Tommy Flanagan are both at the post in other units.

Oct 1-31: Waynesville MO: Work on base with the 6th Armored Division’s Special Service Section. See c16-30 Sept.

Nov 1-30: Waynesville MO: Work on base with the 6th Armored Division’s Special Service Section. See c16-30 Sept and 1-31 Oct.

Dec 1-31: Waynesville MO: Work on base with the 6th Armored Division’s Special Service Section. See c16-30 Sept and 1-30 Nov.

1952

Jan 1-31: Waynesville MO: Work on base with the 6th Armored Division’s Special Service Section. See c16-30 Sept 1951 and 1-31 Dec 1951.

Feb 1-29: Waynesville MO: Work on base with the 6th Armored Division’s Special Service  Section. See c16-30 Sept 1951 and 1-31 Jan 1952.

Mar 1-31: Waynesville MO: Work on base with the 6th Armored Division’s Special Service Section. See c16-30 Sept 1951 and 16-29 Feb.

Apr 1-30: Waynesville MO: Work on base with the 6th Armored Division’s Special Service Section. See c16-30 Sept 1951 and 1-31 Mar. Sometime in the Spring, Adams receives an emergency furlough at Ft. Leonard Wood as a ruse, engineered by Charlie Parker (posing as Adams’ mother's doctor), so that Adams could play a gig with Parker in Kansas City. When Adams learns that Parker didn’t show up at his gig, Adams sees a movie, stays overnight at the Y, then returns to the base the following day.

May 1-31: Waynesville MO: Work with the 6th Armored Division’s Special Service Section. See c16-30 Sept 1951 and 1-30 Apr.

June 1-30: Waynesville MO: Work with the 6th Armored Division’s Special Service Section. See c16-30 Sept 1951 and 1-31 May.

July 1-11: Waynesville MO: Work with in the 6th Armored Division’s Special Service Section. See c16-30 Sept 1951 and 1-30 June.

cJuly 12: Travel. Adams, after completing his first full year in the Army, drives home to Detroit on leave. 

cJuly 13-26: Detroit: Adams on leave from the U.S. Army. In Ann Arbor MI he does a Hugh Jackson private recording with Bu Bu Turner, et al. In Pontiac MI Adams goes to Thad Jones’ parents’ house for a jam session soon after meeting Thad for the first time. See http://instagram.com/p/r61ap3pnpZ/?modal=true.

cJuly 27: Travel. Adams returns to Ft. Leonard Wood.

July 28-31: Waynesville MO: Work with the 6th Armored Division’s Special Service Section. See c16-30 Sept 1951 and 1-11 July.

Aug 1-31: Waynesville MO: Adams works in the 6th Armored Division’s Special Service Section. See c16-30 Sept 1951 and 1-11 July.  

Sept 1-27: Waynesville MO: Adams works in the 6th Armored Division’s Special Service Section. See c16-30 Sept 1951 and 1-31 Aug.

cSept 26: Travel to Detroit. 

cSept 27-29: Detroit: Adams’ final leave from the U.S. Army before going to Korea. Adams visits with Thad Jones.

cSept 30: Travel to San Francisco.

cOct 1-2: San Francisco: Awaiting orders to ship off for Korea.

cOct 3-21: San Francisco: Adams is shipped off to Korea by way of Ft. Lott in Seattle with the 10th Special Services Company on the USS Walker. He’s likely part of a small combo unit that entertained aboard the ship twice a day. Those in the band were given better sleeping quarters and a small space to practice. See http://instagram.com/p/vrOk7CJnv3/?modal=true. 

cOct 22-31: Asaka, Japan: Adams is stationed at Camp Drake awaiting re-assignment in Korea. He plays pickup shows, including some at the Ernie Pyle Theater and the Rocker Four Club, both in Tokyo. See http://instagram.com/p/sAM2unJnvj/?modal=true. 

cNov 1-14: Asaka, Japan: Adams is stationed at Camp Drake awaiting re-assignment in Korea. He plays pickup shows, including some at the Ernie Pyle Theater and the Rocker Four Club, both in Tokyo. Possible gig at the Rocker Club with Al Gould. See http://instagram.com/p/sAM2unJnvj/?modal=true. 

Nov 15: Korea: Adams travels by boat to Korea.

Nov 16: Seoul: Adams reports to the 10th Special Services headquarters, then is taken by Jeep to join the 2nd Platoon for his first performance in the Eighth Army’s 10th Special Services band. See http://instagram.com/p/sAZ9EdpnmL/?modal=true. 

Nov-17-30: Korea: Unknown performances with the 10th Special Services.

Dec 1-2: Korea: Unknown performances with the 10th Special Services.

Dec 3-26: Korea: Performances for the 40th Infantry Division.

Dec 27-30: Korea: Performances for the 25th Infantry Division and the 40th Infantry Division.

Dec 31: Korea: Performances for the 25th Infantry Division.

1953

Jan 1-23: Korea: Performances for the 25th Infantry Division. See 31 Dec.

Jan 23: Korea: Performances for the 25th Infantry Division and I CORPS ARTY.

Jan 24-31: Korea: Performances for the I CORPS ARTY.

Feb 1: Korea: Performances for the I CORPS ARTY. See 23-31 Jan.

Feb 1-6: Korea: Performances for the 1169th Engineering Construction Group.

Feb 7: Korea: Performances for the 1169th Engineering Construction Group and the 1st Commonwealth Division.

Feb 8-16: Korea: Performances for the 1st Commonwealth Division.

Feb 17: Korea: Performances for the 1st Commonwealth Division and the IX Corps ARTY.

Feb 18: Kumwah Valley, Korea: Performances for the IX Corps ARTY. On the 18th one of the trucks had to be replaced.

Feb 19-26: Kumwah Valley, Korea: Performances for the IX Corps ARTY.

Feb 27: Korea: Performances for the IX Corps ARTY and the 5th F.A.G.

Feb 28: Korea: Performances for the 5th F.A.G.

Mar 1-3: Korea: Performances for the 5th F.A.G. See 27-28 Feb. See http://instagram.com/p/sAd60lpnt6/?modal=true.

Mar 4-8: Chunchon, Korea: Performances for the 351st TRK TRANS LP.

Mar 9: Chunchon, Korea: Performances for the 351st TRK TRANS LP. Later, in Sokcho-Ri, Korea, performances for the 8206th ASU or ATU.

Mar 10-13: Sokcho-Ri, Korea: Performances for the 8206th ASU or ATU.

Mar 14: Sokcho-Ri, Korea: Performances for the 8206th ASU or ATU and performances for the X CORPS HQ.

Mar 15: Korea: Performances for the X CORPS HQ. See http://instagram.com/p/r9-zjGJnr_/?modal=true.

Mar 16: Korea: Performances for the X CORPS HQ and the 45th Division Forward LP.

Mar 17: Sokcho Ri, Korea: Performances for the 45th Division Forward LP.

Mar 18-19: Korea: Performances for the 45th Division Forward LP.

Mar 20: Korea: Performances for the 45th Division Forward LP and the 160th Infantry REG 40th Division.

Mar 21-22: Korea: Performances for the 160th Infantry REG 40th Division.

Mar 23: Korea: Performances for the 160th Infantry REG 40th Division and an unknown gig in Seoul.

Mar 24-31: Seoul: Unknown performances, including the Seoul City Command Theater and possibly a command performance for the President of Korea. See http://instagram.com/p/sAdKJ5pnsf/?modal=true. 

Apr 1-4: Korea: Unknown performances with the 10th Services Company. See http://instagram.com/p/vrR-uYpnqU/?modal=true. 

Apr 5: near Kunsan, Korea: Tommy Flanagan trio plus Jerry Lehmeier (alto sax), recorded on Easter, possibly at Base K-8 by Pepper Adams, who was in the audience.

Apr 6-11: Korea: Unknown performances with the 10th Services Company.

Apr 12: near Kunsan, Korea: Tommy Flanagan trio plus Jerry Lehmeier (alto sax), recorded at Base K-8, possibly by Pepper Adams, who was in the audience.

Apr 13-30: Tague, Kimpo Airfield and Taejon: Various performances for the Marines, Navy, Air Force, Army and Seabees.

May 1-16: Tague, Kimpo Airfield and Taejon: Various 10th Special Services performances for the Marines, Navy, Air Force, Army and Seabees.

May 17-31: Pacific Ocean: Embarking from Pusan, Korea, Adams is aboard the Marine Phoenix troopship on his return home. On cMay 23 he performs on alto sax for returning troops in a quintet with Doc Holladay. See http://instagram.com/p/sAlhLvpnrg/?modal=true. 

June 1: Pacific Ocean: Adams is aboard the Marine Phoenix on his return from Korea. See 17-31 May.

cJune 2: Seattle: Adams arrives at Ft. Lott.

June 2-4: Travel home to Detroit.

June 5: Ft. Custer MI: Adams, with the rank of Corporal, files his paperwork, receives his U.S. Army Reserve ID Card and is relieved from active duty, possibly one year early for an enlistee. He’s officially transferred to the U.S. Army Reserve the following day. Adams “serves” in this capacity for six years but there’s no evidence that he’s ever called again to duty. See ID card at http://instagram.com/p/r7tA7cpnlZ/?modal=true and  http://instagram.com/p/r7uDnIJnm8/?modal=true.  

Aug: Detroit: Charlie Parker, opposite Illinois Jacquet and Arnett Cobb, plays the Graystone Ballroom. Pepper might have attended this gig.

Fall: Detroit: Possible gigs with Errol Buddle.

Nov 26: Detroit: Off.

Dec 24-25: Detroit: Off.

1954

Jan 1: Detroit: Off.

cJan 27-31: Detroit: Bassist “Beans” Richardson assumes leadership of the house band at the Blue Bird Inn, formerly led by tenor saxophonist Billy Mitchell. Adams replaces Mitchell and joins Thad Jones in the front line. The rhythm section includes Tommy Flanagan and Elvin Jones. See http://instagram.com/p/t1D-2opnow/?modal=true.

Feb 1: Detroit: Gig at the Blue Bird. See c27-31 Jan.

Feb 2: Detroit: Off?

Feb 3-8: Detroit: Gig at the Blue Bird. See 1 Feb.

Feb 9: Detroit: Off?

Feb 10-15: Detroit: Gig at the Blue Bird. See 3-8 Feb.

Feb 16: Detroit: Off?

Feb 17-22: Detroit: Gig at the Blue Bird. See 10-15 Feb.

Feb 23: Detroit: Off?

Feb 24-28: Detroit: Gig at the Blue Bird. See 17-22 Feb.

Mar: Detroit: Sonny Stitt is guest soloist for at least one week at the Blue Bird. See http://instagram.com/p/t1D-2opnow/?modal=true.

Mar 1: Detroit: Gig at the Blue Bird. See 24-28 Feb.

Mar 2: Detroit: Off?

Mar 3-8: Detroit: Gig at the Blue Bird. See 1 Mar. On 6 March, Kenny Burrell formally established the New Music Society with a mandate to promote concerts in town and ongoing Tuesday night jam sessions at the World Stage Theater. Sunday jam sessions were also started at first, but suspended after 3-4 weeks.

Mar 9: Highland Park MI: Off or possible jam session at the World Stage. 

Mar 10-13: Detroit: Gig at the Blue Bird. See 3-8 Mar.

Mar 14: Highland Park MI: Possible jam session at the World Stage. Later in Detroit, gig at the Blue Bird. See 10-13 Mar.

Mar 15: Detroit: Gig at the Blue Bird. See 14 Mar.

Mar 16: Highland Park MI: Off or possible jam session at the World Stage.

Mar 17-20: Detroit: Gig at the Blue Bird. See 15 Mar.

Mar 21: Highland Park MI: Possible jam session at the World Stage. Later in Detroit, gig at the Blue Bird. See 17-20 Mar.

Mar 22: Detroit: Gig at the Blue Bird. See 21 Mar.

Mar 23: Highland Park MI: Off or possible jam session at the World Stage.

Mar 24-27: Detroit: Gig at the Blue Bird. See 22 Mar.

Mar 28: Highland Park MI: Possible jam session at the World Stage. Later in Detroit, gig at the Blue Bird. See 24-27 Mar.

Mar 29: Detroit: Gig at the Blue Bird. See 28 Mar.

Mar 30: Highland Park MI: Off or possible jam session at the World Stage.

Mar 31: Detroit: Gig at the Blue Bird. See 29 Mar.

Apr: Thad Jones-Pepper Adams piano-less quartet, with Major Holley and Walter Smith (dm), record demos at United Sound. See https://www.flickr.com/photos/radiospike/2391588106/. 

Apr 1-3: Detroit: Gig at the Blue Bird. See 31 Mar.

Apr 4: Highland Park MI: Possible jam session at the World Stage. Later in Detroit, gig at the Blue Bird. See 1-3 Apr.

Apr 5: Detroit: Gig at the Blue Bird. See 4 Apr.

Apr 6: Highland Park MI: Off or possible jam session at the World Stage.

Apr 7-12: Detroit: Gig at the Blue Bird. See 5 Apr. On c7 April Charlie Parker plays the Crystal Show Bar with Will Davis and Major Holley. Pepper might have attended this gig.

Apr 13: Highland Park MI: Off or possible jam session at the World Stage.

Apr 14-19: Detroit: Gig at the Blue Bird. See 7-12 Apr.

Apr 20: Highland Park MI: Off or possible jam session at the World Stage.

Apr 21-26: Detroit: Gig at the Blue Bird. See 14-19 Apr.

Apr 27: Highland Park MI: Off or possible jam session at the World Stage.

Apr 28-30: Detroit: Gig at the Blue Bird. See 21-26 Apr.

May: Barry Harris replaces Tommy Flanagan in the Blue Bird rhythm section. 

May 1-3: Detroit: Gig at the Blue Bird. See 28-30 Apr.

May 4: Highland Park MI: Off or possible jam session at the World Stage.

May 5-10: Detroit: Gig at the Blue Bird. See 1-3 May.

May 11: Highland Park MI: Off or possible jam session at the World Stage.

May 12-17: Detroit: Gig at the Blue Bird. See 5-10 May. On the 12th Thad Jones joins Count Basie and Adams may have Adams become the music director at the Blue Bird. See http://instagram.com/p/t1D-2opnow/?modal=true.

May 18: Highland Park MI: Off or possible jam session at the World Stage.

May 19-24: Detroit: Gig at the Blue Bird. See 12-17 May.

May 25: Highland Park MI: Off or possible jam session at the World Stage.

May 26-31: Detroit: Gig at the Blue Bird. See 19-24 May.

cJune: Detroit: Elvin Jones, with the working Blue Bird band (Pepper Adams, Barry Harris and James “Beans” Richardson), makes demo recording at United Sound. See https://www.flickr.com/photos/radiospike/2391588106/.

June 1: Highland Park MI: Off or possible jam session at the World Stage.

June 2-7: Detroit: Gig at the Blue Bird. See 26-31 May.

June 8: Highland Park MI: Off or possible jam session at the World Stage.

June 9-14: Detroit: Gig at the Blue Bird. See 2-7 June.

June 15: Highland Park MI: Off or possible jam session at the World Stage.

June 16-21: Detroit: Gig at the Blue Bird. See 9-14 June.

June 22: Highland Park MI: Off or possible jam session at the World Stage.

June 23-28: Detroit: Gig at the Blue Bird. See 16-21 June.

June 29: Highland Park MI: Off or possible jam session at the World Stage.

June 30: Detroit: Gig at the Blue Bird. See 23-28 June.

July 1-5: Detroit: Gig at the Blue Bird. See 30 June. 

July 6: Highland Park MI: Off or possible jam session at the World Stage.

July 7-12: Detroit: Gig at the Blue Bird. See 1-5 June.

July 13: Highland Park MI: Off or possible jam session at the World Stage.

July 14-19: Detroit: Gig at the Blue Bird. See 7-12 June.

July 20: Highland Park MI: Off or possible jam session at the World Stage.

July 21-26: Detroit: Gig at the Blue Bird. See 14-19 June. In late July, Wardell Gray is guest soloist for at least a week. See http://instagram.com/p/t1D-2opnow/?modal=true.

July 27: Highland Park MI: Off or possible jam session at the World Stage.

July 28-31: Detroit: Gig at the Blue Bird. See 21-26 June.

Aug 1-2: Detroit: Gig at the Blue Bird. See 28-31 July. 

Aug 3: Highland Park MI: Off or possible jam session at the World Stage.

Aug 4-9: Detroit: Gig at the Blue Bird. See 1-2 Aug. 

Aug 10: Highland Park MI: Off or possible jam session at the World Stage.

Aug 11-16: Detroit: Gig at the Blue Bird. See 4-9 Aug. In mid August, Miles Davis is guest soloist for two weeks. See http://instagram.com/p/t1D-2opnow/?modal=true.

Aug 17: Highland Park MI: Off or possible jam session at the World Stage.

Aug 18-23: Detroit: Gig at the Blue Bird. In mid August, Miles Davis is guest soloist for two weeks. See 11-16 Aug. See http://instagram.com/p/t1D-2opnow/?modal=true.

Aug 24: Highland Park MI: Off or possible jam session at the World Stage.

Aug 25-30: Detroit: Gig at the Blue Bird. See 18-23 Aug. 

Aug 31: Highland Park MI: Off or possible jam session at the World Stage.

cSept: New York: Taking approximately a week off, Adams drives to New York to meet with Bob Weinstock at Prestige Records and Alfred Lion at Blue Note Records. He attempts to secure a record deal by playing the demo recording made in Detroit a few months earlier. (See cJune.) During the visit Adams sits in at Birdland with Miles Davis, playing Sonny Rollins’ tenor saxophone. 

Sept: Detroit: Charlie Parker plays two weeks at the Crystal Show Bar backed by Gene Nero’s group. Pepper might have attended this gig.

Sept 1-6 Detroit: Possible gig at the Blue Bird. See 25-30 Aug. 

Sept 7: Highland Park MI: Off or possible jam session at the World Stage.

Sept 8-13 Detroit: Possible gig at the Blue Bird. See 1-6 Sept. 

Sept 14: Highland Park MI: Off or possible jam session at the World Stage.

Sept 15-20 Detroit: Possible gig at the Blue Bird. See 8-13 Sept. 

Sept 21: Highland Park MI: Off or possible jam session at the World Stage.

Sept 22-27 Detroit: Possible gig at the Blue Bird. See 15-20 Sept. 

Sept 28-30: Highland Park MI: Off or possible jam session at the World Stage.

Oct 1-4: Detroit: Gig at the Blue Bird. See 22-27 Sept. 

Oct 5: Highland Park MI: Off or possible jam session at the World Stage.

Oct 6-11: Detroit: Gig at the Blue Bird. See 1-4 Oct. 

Oct 12: Highland Park MI: Off or possible jam session at the World Stage.

Oct 13-18: Detroit: Gig at the Blue Bird. See 6-11 Oct.

Oct 19: Highland Park MI: Off or possible jam session at the World Stage.

Oct 20-25: Detroit: Gig at the Blue Bird. See 13-18 Oct.

Oct 26: Highland Park MI: Off or possible jam session at the World Stage.

Oct 27-31: Detroit: Gig at the Blue Bird. See 20-25 Oct.

Nov 1: Detroit: Gig at the Blue Bird. See 27-31 Oct.

Nov 2: Highland Park MI: Off or possible jam session at the World Stage.

Nov 3-8: Detroit: Gig at the Blue Bird. See 1 Nov. 

Nov 9: Highland Park MI: Off or possible jam session at the World Stage.

Nov 10-15: Detroit: Gig at the Blue Bird. See 3-8 Nov.

Nov 16: Highland Park MI: Off or possible jam session at the World Stage.

Nov 17-22: Detroit: Gig at the Blue Bird. See 10-15 Nov.

Nov 23: Highland Park MI: Off or possible jam session at the World Stage.

Nov 24: Detroit: Gig at the Blue Bird. See 17-22 Nov.

Nov 25: Detroit: Off.

Nov 26-30: Detroit: Gig at the Blue Bird. See 24 Nov.

Dec 1-6: Detroit: Gig at the Blue Bird. See 26-30 Nov.

Dec 7: Highland Park MI: Off or possible jam session at the World Stage.

Dec 8-13: Detroit: Gig at the Blue Bird. See 1-6 Dec. 

Dec 14: Highland Park MI: Off or possible jam session at the World Stage.

Dec 15-20: Detroit: Gig at the Blue Bird. See 8-13Dec.

Dec 21: Highland Park MI: Off or possible jam session at the World Stage.

Dec 22-23: Detroit: Gig at the Blue Bird. See 15-20 Dec.

Dec 24-25: Detroit: Off.

cDec 26-27: Detroit: Adams leaves the Blue Bird to join Kenny Burrell’s group at Klein’s Show Bar, typically with Tommy Flanagan and Elvin Jones. Bassist might have been Ernie Farrow.

Dec 28: Detroit: Off?

Dec 29-31: Detroit: Gig at Klein’s. See c26-27 Dec.

1955

Jan 1: Detroit: Off.

Jan 2-3: Detroit: Gig at Klein’s. See 29-31 Dec 1954. Also, Adams begins a day job at Al’s Record Mart (1536 Broadway).

Jan 4: Detroit: Off?

Jan 5-10: Detroit: Gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 2-3 Jan.

Jan 11: Detroit: Off?

Jan 12-17: Detroit: Gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 5-10 Jan.

Jan 18: Detroit: Off?

Jan 19-24: Detroit: Detroit: Gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 12-17 Jan.

Jan 25: Detroit: Off?

Jan 26-31: Detroit: Detroit: Gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 19-24 Jan.

Feb 1: Detroit: Off?

Feb 2-7: Detroit: Gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 26-31 Jan. On the 4th, Charlie Parker opens a two week stint at the Madison Ballroom with Candy Johnson’s quartet. Pepper might have attended this gig.

Feb 8: Detroit: Off?

Feb 9-14: Detroit: Gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 2-7 Feb. On the 14th, Charlie Parker opens a one week engagement at the Rouge Lounge. Pepper might have attended this. 

cFeb 15: Highland Park MI: Adams, Tommy Flanagan (occasionally Hugh Lawson), Ernie Farrow and Hindal Butts start their nearly year-long run at the World Stage’s Tuesday jam session. At that time, Oliver Shearer and Yusef Lateef take charge of the World Stage  programming after Kenny Burrell leaves to join Jazz at the Philharmonic. In addition to Tuesday jam sessions from 9pm-12, they re-establish Sunday afternoon concerts, though now on alternating Sundays.

Feb 16-21: Detroit: Gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 9-14 Feb.

Feb 22: Highland Park MI: Jam session at the World Stage. See c15 Feb.

Feb 23-28: Detroit: Gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 16-21 Feb.

Mar 1: Highland Park MI: Jam session at the World Stage. See 22 Feb.

Mar 2-7: Detroit: Gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 23-28 Feb.

Mar 8: Highland Park MI: Jam session at the World Stage. See 1 Mar.

Mar 9-14: Detroit: Gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 2-7 Mar. On the 12th Charlie Parker dies in New York at age 34.

Mar 15: Highland Park MI: Jam session at the World Stage. See 8 Mar.

Mar 16-21: Detroit: Gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 9-14 Mar.

Mar 22: Highland Park MI: Jam session at the World Stage. See 15 Mar.

Mar 23-27: Detroit: Gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 16-21 Mar.

Mar 28: Detroit: New Music Society date for Free Arts, recorded at the Detroit Institute of Arts. Earlier, Adams possibly works at Al’s Record Mart and, later, possibly drops in at Klein’s.

Mar 29: Highland Park MI: Jam session at the World Stage. See 22 Mar.

Mar 30-31: Detroit: Gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 23-27 Mar.

Apr: Detroit: Wardell Gray plays Klein’s as guest soloist.

Apr 1-4: Detroit: Gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 30-31 Mar. Adams lives in or near Arden Park, across Meyer Road.

Apr 5: Highland Park MI: Jam session at the World Stage. See 29 Mar.

Apr 6-11: Detroit: Gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 1-4 Apr. 

Apr 12: Highland Park MI: Jam session at the World Stage. See 5 Apr.

Apr 13-18: Detroit: Gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 6-11 Apr. 

Apr 19: Highland Park MI: Jam session at the World Stage. See 12 Apr.

Apr 20-25: Detroit: Gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 13-18 Apr. 

Apr 26: Highland Park MI: Jam session at the World Stage. See 19 Apr.

Apr 27-31: Detroit: Gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 20-25 Apr. 

cMay: Detroit: Pepper Adams date at the World Stage, recorded by Transition, with Yusef Lateef, Tommy Flanagan or Barry Harris, possibly Elvin Jones, et al. Pepper Adams date in Dave Usher’s basement, possibly for Dee Gee, with Curtis Fuller, Tommy Flanagan or Barry Harris, Ernie Farrow and Hindal Butts. 

May 1-2: Detroit: Gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 27-31 April. 

May 3: Highland Park MI: Jam session at the World Stage. See 26 Apr.

May 4-9: Detroit: Gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 1-2 May. 

May 10: Highland Park MI: Jam session at the World Stage. See 3 May.

May 11-16: Detroit: Gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 4-9 May. 

May 17: Highland Park MI: Jam session at the World Stage. See 10 May.

May 18-23: Detroit: Gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 11-16 May. 

May 24: Highland Park MI: Jam session at the World Stage. See 197 May. 

May 25-30: Detroit: Gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 18-23 May. On the 25th Wardell Gray dies at age 34 in Las Vegas.

May 31: Highland Park MI: Jam session at the World Stage. See 24 May.

June 1-6: Detroit: Gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 25-30 May. On c1 June, Adams, invited by Wardell Gray’s family, serves as a pallbearer at Wardell Gray’s funeral.

June 7: Highland Park MI: Jam session at the World Stage. See 31 May.

June 8-13: Detroit: Gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 1-6 June. 

June 14: Highland Park MI: Jam session at the World Stage. See 7 June.

June 15-20: Detroit: Gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 8-13 June. 

June 21: Highland Park MI: Jam session at the World Stage. See 14 June.

June 22-27: Detroit: Gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 15-20 June. 

June 28: Highland Park MI: Jam session at the World Stage. See 21 June.

June 29-30: Detroit: Gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 22-27 June. 

July: Detroit: Upon Kenny Burrell’s departure to join Oscar Peterson, Adams becomes musical director at Klein’s. The steady group is Adams and Curtis Fuller, with Tommy Flanagan or Hugh Lawson, Ernie Farrow and Hindal Butts. 

July 1-4: Detroit: Gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 29-30 June. 

July 5: Highland Park MI: Jam session at the World Stage. See 28 June.

July 6-11: Detroit: Gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 1-4 July. 

July 12: Highland Park MI: Jam session at the World Stage. See 5 July.

July 13-18: Detroit: Gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 6-11 July. 

July 19: Highland Park MI: Jam session at the World Stage. See 12 July.

July 20-25: Detroit: Gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 13-18 July. 

July 26: Highland Park MI: Jam session at the World Stage. See 19 July.

July 27-31: Detroit: Gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 20-25 July.

Aug 1: Highland Park MI: Jam session at the World Stage. See 26 July.

Aug 2-8: Detroit: Gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 27-31 July. 

Aug 9: Highland Park MI: Jam session at the World Stage. See 1 Aug.

Aug 10-15: Detroit: Gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 2-8 Aug. 

Aug 16: Highland Park MI: Jam session at the World Stage. See 9 Aug.

Aug 17-22: Detroit: Gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 10-15 Aug. 

Aug 23: Highland Park MI: Jam session at the World Stage. See 16 Aug.

Aug 24-29: Detroit: Gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 17-22 Aug. 

Aug 30: Highland Park MI: Jam session at the World Stage. See 23 Aug.

Aug 31: Detroit: Gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 24-29 Aug.

Sept 1-5: Detroit: Possible gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 31 Aug. 

Sept 6: Highland Park MI: Possible jam session at the World Stage. See 30 Aug.

Sept 7-12: Detroit: Possible gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 1-5 Sept. 

Sept 13: Highland Park MI: Possible jam session at the World Stage. See 7 Sept.

cSept 14-17: Toronto: Adams gig with Charles Mingus, Teddy Charles, Doug Watkins and Elvin Jones. Adams drives from Detroit with Carol Thompson.

Sept 18: Travel?

Sept 19: Detroit: Possible gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 7-12 Sept.

Sept 20: Highland Park MI: Possible jam session at the World Stage. See 13 Sept.

Sept 21-26: Detroit: Possible gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 19 Sept.

Sept 27: Highland Park MI: Possible jam session at the World Stage. See 20 Sept.

Sept 28-30: Detroit: Possible gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 21-26 Sept.

Oct 1-3: Detroit: Gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 28-30 Sept. 

Oct 4: Highland Park MI: Jam session at the World Stage. See 27 Sept.

Oct 5-10: Detroit: Gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 1-3 Oct. 

Oct 11: Highland Park MI: Jam session at the World Stage. See 4 Oct.

Oct 12-17: Detroit: Gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 5-10 Oct. 

Oct 18: Highland Park MI: Jam session at the World Stage. See 11 Oct.

Oct 19-24: Detroit: Gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 12-17 Oct. 

Oct 25: Highland Park MI: Jam session at the World Stage. See 16 Oct.

Oct 26-31: Detroit: Gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 19-24 Oct. On the 31st Pepper and Janet Muir go on their first date.

Nov 1: Highland Park MI: Possible jam session at the World Stage. See 25 Oct.

Nov 2-7: Detroit: Possible gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 26-31 Oct.

Nov 8: Highland Park MI: Possible jam session at the World Stage. See 1 Nov.

Nov 9: Detroit: Possible gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 2-7 Nov.

Nov 10: Travel?

Nov 11: Cambridge MA: Dave Coleman date for Transition, with violinist Dick Wetmore, et al.

Nov 12: Travel?

Nov 13-14: Detroit: Possible gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 9 Nov.

Nov 15: Highland Park MI: Possible jam session at the World Stage. See 8 Nov.

Nov 16-21: Detroit: Gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 13-14 Nov.

Nov 22: Highland Park MI: Jam session at the World Stage. See 15 Nov.

Nov 23: Detroit: Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 16-21 Nov.

Nov 24: Detroit: Off.

Nov 25-30: Detroit: Gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 23 Nov.

Dec 1-5: Detroit: Gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 25-30 Nov. 

Dec 6: Highland Park MI: Jam session at the World Stage. See 22 Nov.

Dec 7-12: Detroit: Gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 1-5 Dec. 

Dec 13: Highland Park MI: Jam session at the World Stage. See 6 Dec.

Dec 14-19: Detroit: Gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 7-12 Dec. 

Dec 20: Highland Park MI: Jam session at the World Stage. See 13 Dec.

Dec 21-23: Detroit: Gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 14-19 Dec. 

Dec 24-25: Detroit: Off.

Dec 26: Detroit: Gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 21-23 Dec.

Dec 27: Highland Park MI: Jam session at the World Stage. See 20 Dec.

Dec 28-31: Detroit: Gig at Klein’s and day job at Al’s Record Mart. See 26 Dec. Gig at a private party on 31 Dec.

1956

Jan 1: Detroit: Gig at a private party. See 31 Dec 1955.

cJan 2-7: Detroit: Adams prepares to move to New York.

cJan 8: Travel. Adams drives to New York with Janet Muir.

cJan 8-31: Adams and Janet Muir take an apartment at 410 West End Avenue. Adams works at Glen Falls Insurance Company on Wall Street while awaiting the transfer of his union card. Adams sits in with Oscar Pettiford and Kenny Clarke at Café Bohemia.

cFeb-Mar: New York: Adams attends Ken Karpe’s Friday night invitation-only jam sessions with Oscar Pettiford on East 23rd St.

Feb-Mar: Adams and Janet Muir live together at 410 West End Avenue.

Apr: Adams and Janet Muir live together at 410 West End Avenue.

Apr 20: Cambridge MA: Curtis Fuller date for Transition, with John Coltrane, Roland Alexander, Paul Chambers and Philly Joe Jones. See http://instagram.com/p/r7zLUcpngW/?modal=true. Then, Cambridge MA gig after the recording session, with Fuller, Coltrane, Chambers and Jones.

Apr 21: Travel?

Apr 30: Hackensack NJ: Kenny Clarke date for Savoy, with Tommy Flanagan, Kenny Burrell and Paul Chambers. See http://instagram.com/p/sFPlpTJnso/?modal=true. 

May 9: Hackensack NJ: Kenny Clarke date for Savoy, with Tommy Flanagan, Kenny Burrell and Paul Chambers. See http://instagram.com/p/sFPlpTJnso/?modal=true. 

May 25: Boston: Upon Oscar Pettiford’s recommendation, Adams joins the Stan Kenton Orchestra, leaving by bus from New York for a gig at the State Ballroom. With some minor exceptions, Kenton’s personnel (with Lee Katzman, Richie Kamuca, Mel Lewis, et al.) is constant through November.

May 26: Taunton MA: Kenton at Roseland Ballroom.

May 27: South River NJ: Kenton at Liberty Ballroom.

May 28: Off.

May 29: Kent OH: Kenton at Kent University.

May 30: Youngstown OH: Kenton at Idora Park.

May 31: Pittsburgh: Kenton at Westview Park.

June 1: Buckeye Lake OH: Kenton at Crystal Beach Ballroom.

June 2: Monticello IN: Kenton at Indiana Beach Ballroom.

June 3: Milwaukee: Kenton at Million Dollar Ballroom.

June 4: Off.

June 5: Des Moines IA: Kenton at Val Air Ballroom.

June 6: Off.

June 7-9: St. Louis: Kenton at Riviera Ballroom.

June 10: Collinsville IL: Kenton at Collinsville Park Pavilion.

June 11: Belleville IL: Kenton at Belleville Township High School.

June 12: Off.

June 13-23: Chicago: Kenton at the Blue Note.

June 24: North Shore, Suburban Chicago: Afternoon barbecue and jam session with Chet Baker and Bobby Timmons. Then, Kenton gig at the Blue Note. See 13-23 June.

June 25: Cedar Lake IN: Kenton at Midway Ballroom.

June 26: Madison WI: Kenton at Edgewater Hotel.

June 27: Lake Geneva WI: Kenton at Riviera Ballroom.

June 28: Janesville IA: Kenton at Riviera Ballroom.

June 29: Marinette WI: Kenton at the Silver Dome.

June 30: Coloma MI: Kenton at the Crystal Palace.

July 1: Chicago: Kenton at Trianon Ballroom.

July 2: Off.

July 3: Kansas City: Kenton at Pla Mor Ballroom.

July 4: Omaha: Kenton at Peony Park.

July 5: Clear Lake IA: Kenton at Surf Ballroom.

July 6-7: St. Paul: Kenton at Prom Ballroom.

July 8: Austin MN: Kenton at Terp Ballroom.

July 9: Off.

July 10: La Crosse WI: Kenton at Avalon Ballroom.

July 11: Elgin IL: Kenton at Blue Moon Ballroom.

July 12: Russells Point OH: Kenton at Sandy Beach Park at Indian Lake.

July 13: Leesburg IN: Kenton at Tippecanoe Gardens.

July 14: Lansing MI: Kenton at the Dells at Lake Lansing.

July 15: Celina OH: Kenton at Edgewater Park.

July 16: Off.

July 17: Indianapolis: Kenton at Westlake Terrace.

July 18: Chippewa Lake OH: Kenton at Chippewa Lake.

July 19: Brooklyn MI: Kenton at Wamplers Lake.

July 20: Fruitport MI: Kenton at Fruitport Pavilion.

July 21: Flint MI: Kenton at IMA Auditorium.

July 22: Vermilion OH: Kenton at Crystal Beach Ballroom.

July 23: Detroit: Kenton at Motor City Arena.

July 24: Windsor, Ontario: Kenton at Crystal Beach.

July 25: Burlington, Ontario: Kenton at Brant Inn.

July 26: Cheswick PA: Kenton at Ches Arena.

July 27-31: Atlantic City NJ: Kenton at the Steel Pier.

Aug 1-2: Atlantic City NJ: Kenton at the Steel Pier. See 27-31 July.

Aug 3: Off.

Aug 4: Hershey PA: Kenton at Hershey Park.

Aug 5: Canton OH: Kenton at Moonlight Gardens at Meyers Lake.

Aug 6-7: Off.

Aug 8-14: Chicago: Kenton at Blue Note.

Aug 15: Spirit City IA: Kenton at the Roof Garden.

Aug 16-17: Huron SD: Kenton at the Huron Theatre.

Aug 18-20: Off/Travel?

Aug 21-26: Denver: Kenton at El Patio Ballroom in Lakeside Park. Adams visits with Doc Holladay.

Aug 27-31: Off/Travel?

Sept 1-2: Balboa Beach CA: Kenton at Rendezvous Ballroom.

Sept 7: Los Angeles: Kenton concert, produced by Gene Norman.

Sept 8-23: Hollywood CA: Kenton at Zardi’s.

Oct: Detroit: During a gap in Kenton’s itinerary, Adams travels from California to Detroit to pick up his car and drive it back to the West Coast.

Oct 30: Pasadena CA: Kenton at Civic Auditorium.

Nov 1: Sausalito CA: Adams begins his stay, for most of the month, at a hotel run by a retired French sea captain with a view of inner San Francisco Bay.

Nov 2-18: San Francisco: Kenton at Macumba Club. Ralph J. Gleason writes in the San Francisco Chronicle the first notice about Adams to appear in a major publication. Mel Lewis afternoon rehearsal on the 14th at the Macumba Club for his recording date on 19-20 Nov.

Nov 19: Berkeley: Kenton at University of California. Then, Mel Lewis date in Oakland for San Francisco, with Richie Kamuca, John Marabuto, et al.

Nov 20: San Francisco: Kenton at University of San Francisco. Then, Mel Lewis date in Oakland for San Francisco, with Richie Kamuca, John Marabuto, et al.

Nov 21: San Francisco: Kenton at San Francisco State College.

Nov 22: Palo Alto: Kenton at Stanford University.

Nov 23: Oakland: Kenton at Sweet’s Ballroom.

Nov 24: San Francisco: Adams, Lee Katzman and Mel Lewis quit Kenton and move to Los Angeles to form a quintet.

Nov 25: Los Angeles: Adams composes Mary’s Blues. See http://instagram.com/p/r2vHCWJnhk/?modal=true, http://instagram.com/p/r2vzl-pni4/?modal=true and http://instagram.com/p/r2tANnJntX/?modal=true. 

Nov 26-30: Los Angeles: Adams, Lee Katzman and Mel Lewis rehearse.

Dec: Pasadena: Gig at Zucca’s Cottage with Lee Katzman, Ernest Crawford (p), Red Kelly (b) and Mel Lewis. Los Angeles: Possible gigs with Maynard Ferguson’s Big Band. Mel Lewis, Richie Kamuca and other members of Kenton’s band are in the 13-piece group. Los Angeles: Unknown studio dates with Conrad Gozzo.

cDec. 4: San Fernando CA: Adams moves to 14354 Germain Street to stay for a time with Lee Katzman and his family.

Dec 10: Los Angeles: Lennie Niehaus date for Contemporary, with Frank Rosolino, Bill Perkins, Red Mitchell, Mel Lewis, et al.

Dec 12: Hollywood CA: Stan Kenton date for Capitol.

Dec 24-25: Los Angeles: Off.

1957

cJan: Hollywood CA: Adams sits in on Pete Jolly gig at Sherry’s, with Ralph Pena and Larry Bunker.

Jan: Los Angeles and Hollywood: Various jam sessions, including those at Carl Perkins’ house, with Leroy Vinnegar. Los Angeles: Unknown studio dates with Conrad Gozzo.

Jan 1: Los Angeles: Off.

Jan 5-6: Los Angeles: Possible gig with Maynard Ferguson’s Big Band.

cJan 15: Los Angeles: Possible gig on Sunset Strip with Dave Pell’s Octet prior to 17 Jan date.

Jan 17: Los Angeles and Hollywood: Dave Pell date for RCA (with Jack Sheldon, Mel Lewis, et al.) and Kenton Orchestra date for Capitol.

Jan 23: Los Angeles: Dave Pell date for RCA, with Jack Sheldon, Mel Lewis, et al.

Jan 30: Los Angeles: Shorty Rogers big band date for RCA, with Harry Edison, Frank Rosolino, Herb Geller, Red Mitchell, Stan Levey, et al.

Feb: Los Angeles: Unknown studio dates with Conrad Gozzo.

Feb 1: Los Angeles: Shorty Rogers big band date for RCA. See 30 Jan.

Feb 4: Los Angeles: Shorty Rogers big band date for RCA. See 1 Feb.

cmid Feb: Los Angeles: Gigs with Maynard Ferguson’s Big Band: Ferguson, Joe Burnett, Ed Leddy, Tom Slaney tp; Bob Burgess, Frank Strong tb; Joe Maini, Jimmy Ford as, ts; Willie Maiden ts; Adams bs; John Bannister p; Moe Edwards b; Larry Bunker dm.

Feb 22: Hollywood CA: Stan Kenton date for Capitol, with Richie Kamuca, Red Mitchell, Mel Lewis, et al.

Mar: Los Angeles: Gigs with Maynard Ferguson’s Big Band, possibly at Peacock Lane. See cmid Feb personnel. Unknown studio dates with Conrad Gozzo.

Mar 1: Los Angeles: Quincy Jones date for ABC, with Carl Perkins, Leroy Vinnegar, Shelly Manne, et al.

Mar 4: Hollywood CA: Stan Kenton date for Capitol, with Red Mitchell and Mel Lewis.

Mar 11: Los Angeles: Bob Keene date for Andex, with Red Norvo, et al.

Mar 12: Los Angeles: Lennie Niehaus date for Contemporary, with Frank Rosolino, Richie Kamuca, Stan Levey, et al.

Mar 19: Pasadena: Mel Lewis-Pepper Adams Quintet gig at Zucca’s, with Lee Katzman, et al.

Mar 20: Los Angeles: Dave Pell date for RCA, with Jack Sheldon, Mel Lewis, et al. See 23 Jan.

Mar 21: Los Angeles: Bob Keene date for Andex, with Red Norvo, Red Mitchell, Shelly Manne, et al. Later in Los Angeles, Herbie Harper date at Jazz City for Bethlehem, with Claude Williamson, Curtis Counce, Mel Lewis, et al.

cMar 22: Los Angeles: Adams leaves by car for New York with three members of Ferguson’s band. All three were junkies and it was a very difficult trip for Adams. One was likely Joe Maini. Another might have been Larry Bunker.

cMar 28: Omaha: Maynard Ferguson Big Band gig.

cMar 30: St. Louis: Maynard Ferguson Big Band gig at auditorium adjoining another auditorium at which Elvis Presley was performing.

cApr 1: Minneapolis: Maynard Ferguson Big Band gig.

cApr 4-14: New York: Maynard Ferguson Big Band at Birdland. Live broadcasts by the Mutual Radio Network on 6 and 13 April.

cApr 15: New York: Adams joins Chet Baker’s group.

Apr 20: Hackensack NJ: Date for Prestige with John Coltrane, Cecil Payne, Doug Watkins, et al.

cMay 14: Travel?

cMay 15-31: Chicago: Chet Baker gig at the Preview Lounge.

June 1-15: Chicago: Chet Baker gig at Preview Lounge. See c15-31 May.

June 16: Chicago: Off?

June 17-23: Milwaukee: Chet Baker gig at the Brass Rail, with Elmo Hope, Doug Watkins and Philly Joe Jones.

June 24: Milwaukee: Off?

June 25-30: Minneapolis: Chet Baker gig with Phil Urso, Elmo Hope, Doug Watkins and Philly Joe Jones.

July 1: Travel?

July 2-11: Hollywood CA: Gig with Chet Baker at Peacock Lane with Doug Watkins. Don Friedman works the second week with Larance Marable.

July 12: Los Angeles: First date as leader, for Mode, with Stu Williamson, Carl Perkins, Leroy Vinnegar and Mel Lewis. Later, gig with Chet Baker gig in Hollywood at Peacock Lane. See 2-11 July.

July 13-14: Hollywood CA: Gig with Chet Baker at Peacock Lane. See 12 July.

July 15: Los Angeles: Shorty Rogers big band date for RCA, with Frank Rosolino, Richie Kamuca, Stan Levey, et al.

July 16-21: San Francisco: Chet Baker gig at The Blackhawk, with Philly Joe Jones, et al.

July 22-31: San Francisco: Chet Baker gig at Blackhawk with Bob de Graaf (ts), Don Friedman, Doug Watkins and Philly Joe Jones.

Aug 1-4: San Francisco: Chet Baker gig at Blackhawk. See 22-31 July. 

Aug 11: Los Angeles: Shorty Rogers big band date for RCA, with Frank Rosolino, Richie Kamuca, Stan Levey, et al.

Aug 13: Hollywood CA: Bud Shank date for Pacific Jazz, featuring Chet Baker, with Charlie Mariano, Richie Kamuca, Claude Williamson and Mel Lewis. See http://instagram.com/p/rhyBTZJngv/?modal=true. 

Aug 14: Hollywood CA: Bud Shank date for Pacific Jazz, featuring Chet Baker, with Charlie Mariano, Richie Kamuca, Claude Williamson and Mel Lewis. See http://instagram.com/p/rhyBTZJngv/?modal=true. 

Aug 22: Down Beat’s Jazz Critic’s Poll awards Adams their New Star Award.

Aug 23: Hollywood CA: Second date as leader, for World Pacific, with Lee Katzman, Jimmy Rowles, Doug Watkins and Mel Lewis. See http://instagram.com/p/sFM0gEpnoJ/?modal=true.

cAug 24: Travel to Detroit?

cSept 1: Detroit: Soupy Sales TV Show appearance with Curtis Fuller, Tommy Flanagan, probably Ernie Farrow and Frank Gant.

cSept 2-5: Detroit: Gigs with Alvin Jackson.

cSept 9: Ann Arbor MI: Gig with Alvin Jackson.

cSept 10: Ann Arbor MI: Hugh Jackson (dm) private date, with Frank Keys (tp), Bernard McKinney, Barry Harris and Beans Richardson.

Sept 11: Travel?

Sept 15: New York: Shafi Hadi date for Debut, with Wynton Kelly, Henry Grimes, et al.

Sept 17: New York: A.K. Salim date for Savoy, with Kenny Dorham, Johnny Griffin, Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers, Max Roach, et al.

Sept 29: Hackensack NJ: Lee Morgan date for Blue Note, with Bobby Timmons, Paul Chambers and Philly Joe Jones. See http://instagram.com/p/sFOWqopnqe/?modal=true 

Oct: Atlantic City NJ: Week-long quartet gig (with Kenny Burrell) opposite Lee Morgan Quartet. This was the same week that the "Rat Pack" performed at Club 500 with Carmen McCrae and the Ike Isaacs Trio.

Oct 20: Hackensack NJ: Hank Mobley date for Blue Note, with Art Farmer, Sonny Clark, Paul Chambers and Philly Joe Jones.

Nov: New York: Gigs with the Maynard Ferguson Big Band.

Nov 12: Hackensack NJ: Sonny Red date for Savoy, with Wynton Kelly, Doug Watkins and Elvin Jones.

Nov 19: Hackensack NJ: Third Adams date as leader, for Savoy, with Bernard McKinney, Hank Jones, George Duvivier and Elvin Jones.

cDec: New York: Adams works during the holidays at Macy’s department store and at the main branch of the New York Post Office.

Dec 6: Hackensack NJ: Doug Watkins date for Prestige, with Bill Evans, Doug Watkins, Louis Hayes, et al.

Dec 24-25: New York: Off.

cDec 28: New York: Adams takes an apartment with Elvin Jones at 314 East 6 Street, #10.

Dec 30: New York: Toots Thielemans date for Riverside, with Kenny Drew, Wilbur Ware and Arthur Taylor.

1958

Jan 1: New York: Off.

Jan 3: Hackensack NJ: Gene Ammons date for Savoy, with John Coltrane on alto, et al.

                              (c. Rudy Tucich. Tucich is in the rear with eyeglasses. Barry Harris

                                     is to Tucich's right. Charles  McPherson is at the far right.)

Biography Updates and Those Dusty 10-Inchers

© Gary Carner. Copyright Protected. All rights reserved.

Now that the Prologue to Pepper's biography is finally put to bed, I've turned to Chapter 1. This week I had a breakthrough of sorts and things started to flow. My first draft is just a few pages so far, but with notes that will lead to more.

The Prologue is my argument for why a reader should read the book. It's intended for those not familiar with Pepper Adams or those who need a kick in the pants to pony up a few bucks to buy it.

As happy as I am about Chapter 1, I'm especially pleased to report that Pepper's closest friend and Best Man, Ronald Ley, has agreed to write the Foreword. Ley (quoted in my Prologue; see the blog post of 11 March 2015) is a retired psychology professor from SUNY-Albany. He's a very fine writer and has been instrumental in proofing my drafts. No one knew Pepper better than Ron Ley. I expect the Foreword to be an important contribution in its own right.

The distinguished musicologist Andrew Homzy had already agreed to write the Foreword but Ley is 85 years old. It's an opportunity too important to pass up. Alternatively, I've asked Andrew to consider writing an Epilogue. Why an epilogue, you might wonder? I especially like the idea because the reader will be taken from my 100-page bio to John Vana's 100-page discussion of Pepper's saxophone playing. An epilogue would unify both parts, bringing the reader back full circle to the Prologue and bio, with a chance to make some strong concluding comments. 

Homzy would be able to make some important historical observations about Pepper and respond, as an accomplished musician, to some of the things that John Vana will be making. Homzy's reach is broad. He's familiar with the entire history of jazz and many other genres of music too. I hope he can write it.

Book updates aside, I thought I'd amuse myself this week by beginning a list of Pepper's 78s and 10-inch LP collections. Every time I do a seemingly pedantic task like this, I learn something suprisingly new about Pepper. 

For those of you interested in what 10-inchers Pepper kept in his collection, here's the list of his classical recordings first. (I'll address the jazz stuff next week.) I've included all of them, except for two that weren't germane. I'm interested to hear what you think of these. From what I can tell, some of them were copywritten (= released?) around 1949-51, when Pepper was 18-21 years old, prior to his induction in the Army. I suspect they were kept at his mother's home and he took them, with her piano, furniture and other belongings in 1972 after her death, when he moved into his house at 8715 Avenue B in the Canarsie section of Brooklyn.

Adam, Giselle

Bartok, Allegro Barbaro

Bartok, Bagatelle No. 2

Bartok, Burlesque No. 2

Bartok, Contrasts

Bartok, Portrait, Op. 5, No. 1

Bartok, Music for String Instruments, Percussion and Celesta

Bartok, Rhapsody No. 1

Bartok, Roumanian Dance

Bartok, Suite

Berg, Lyric Suite

Berg, Wozzeck

Bliss, Miracle in the Gorbals

Bliss, String Quartet No. 2

Bowles, Concerto for Two Pianos, Winds and Percussion

Bowles, Sonata for Two Pianos

Copeland, Four Dance Episodes from Rodeo

Copeland, El Salon Mexico

Debussy, Prelude to the Afternoon of a Fawn

DeFalla, Suite Popular Espangole

Dukas, The Sorcerer's Apprentice

Harris, Symphony No. 3

Hindemith, Mathis der Maler

Hindemith, String Quartet #4

Hindemith, Sonata

Hindemith, Symphonic Dances

Hindemith, Theme and Four Variations

Honnegger, Concertino for Piano and Orchestra

Ibert, Ports of Call

Milhaud, Carnaval a la Nouvelle-Orleans

Milhaud, Concerto No. 1 for Piano and Orchestra

Milhaud, La Creation du Monde

Milhaud, The Nothing Doing Bar

Milhaud, Les Songs

Milhaud, Suite Francaise

Milhaud, Symphony #1

Piston, Symphony #2

Prokofiev, Concerto No. 2

Ravel, Le Tombeau de Couperin

Sessions, The Black Maskers

Sessions, Symphony No. 2

Schoenberg, Song of the Wood Dove

Schuman, American Festival Overture

Stravinsky, Cinq Pieces Facilies

Stravinsky, The Firebird Suite

Stravinsky, Mass

Stravinsky, Piano Concerto

Stravinsky, Sonato for Two Pianos

Thomson, Five Portraits

Thomson, Louisiana Story

Villa Lobos, Bachianas Brasileiras No. 2

Villa Lobos, Choros No. 10

Williams, Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra

                                                        (Arthur Honneger, 1952)