Dale Fielder to Perform the Entire Adams Songbook

© Gary Carner. Copyright Protected. All rights reserved.

Saxophonist Dale Fielder will be the first musician to ever play the entire oeuvre of Pepper Adams--all 43 compositions--in four concerts, tentatively scheduled for October 18-21 in Los Angeles.  Much like hearing the cycle of Shostakovich's string quartets over a few days, Fielder will perform, with a local rhythm section, Adams' challenging tunes, likely at three different clubs, though  probably not in chronological order.  These performances will give listeners a chance to hear the totality of Adams' compositional output and to buy the 6-CD box set Pepper Adams: Complete Compositions.  Signed copies of my newly published Pepper Adams' Joy Road: An Annotated Discography, at 40% off retail, will also for sale.  Stay tuned for more details on this historic event and on my North American and European book/CD tour.

The Incomparable Pepper Adams

© Gary Carner. Copyright Protected. All rights reserved.

As part of my 6-CD box set project, here are the tunes I've proposed for a "Best of Pepper Adams" anthology.  My apologies to any triskaidekephobics out there, but it does fill up 80 full minutes  What do you think? 

1. Lotus Blossom   (Jimmy Witherspoon)
2. Chant   Donald Byrd (studio version, with Herbie and Doug Watkins)
3. Bossa Nova Ova  (Thad Jones-Pepper Adams)
4. East of the Sun  (Toots Thielemans)
5. Day Dream  (Pepper Adams-Donald Byrd)
6. Baptismal  (Stanley Turrentine)
7. Three and One  (Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra)
8. I've Just Seen Her  (Pepper Adams)
9. Gone With the Wind  (unreleased: Pepper Adams with strings)
10. Salt Peanuts  (Pony Poindexter)
11. Moanin'  (Charles Mingus)
12. Sophisticated Lady  (Donald Byrd)
13. That's All   (Pepper Adams)

Pepper Adams discography update

© Gary Carner. Copyright Protected. All rights reserved.

After 27 years, I've finally finished my discography of Pepper Adams. The manuscript, Pepper Adams' Joy Road: An Annotated Discography, has been submitted to Scarecrow Press for publication this summer.  Dan Morgenstern is writing the foreword, and I've asked Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Sonny Rollins, Phil Woods, and Quincy Jones to write endorsements.  The work, dedicated to Lewis Porter, is approximately 600 pages, covering the period 1947-1986.  Transcribed interview material is appended to many entries, and a centerfold of various media will be included.

Pepper Adams Blog: Dale Fielder Record Byrd-Adams Songbook

© Gary Carner. Copyright Protected. All rights reserved.

Pepper Adams Blog: Dale Fielder Records Byrd-Adams Songbook: Coming up in January, 2012 will be the release of Dale Fielder Quintet's new CD, "Each Time I Think Of You," including highlights from his D...

Dale Fielder Record Byrd-Adams Songbook

© Gary Carner. Copyright Protected. All rights reserved.

Coming up in January, 2012 will be the release of Dale Fielder Quintet's new CD, "Each Time I Think Of You," including highlights from his Donald Byrd/Pepper Adams Quintet touring project. With Fielder are Nolan Shaheed on trumpet, Jane Getz on piano, Trevor Ware on bass, and Don Littleton on drums.    Stay tuned for subsequent performances!

Alexis Cole to perform Pepper Adams ballads

© Gary Carner. Copyright Protected. All rights reserved.

Singer and pianist Alexis Cole will be performing Pepper Adams ballads at William Paterson University, Bard College, and the Tuxedo Park Library:


Thursday, Oct 20, 12:30pm, William Paterson University, Midday Concert Series in Wayne, NJ
Saturday, Oct 22, 8pm, Bard College Recital, Olin Hall, Annandale-on-Hudson NY
Sunday, Nov 20, 2pm, Tuxedo Park Library, Tuxedo Park NY

Alexis Cole collaborated with lyricist Barry Wallenstein, shaping Wallenstein's poetry to fit Adams' melodies.  She recorded all seven ballads last May in Chicago.  The date was led by pianist Jeremy Kahn, who wrote all the arrangements.  The recording will be released next Spring, featuring saxophonists Pat LaBarbera and Eric Alexander.  See alexiscole.com for concert details.

Happy Birthday Pepper Adams!

© Gary Carner. Copyright Protected. All rights reserved.

Today Pepper would have been 81 years old.  The world has changed since he left us in 1986, but one thing surely hasn't: Pepper Adams is still the greatest baritone saxophone soloist in history!  Rest in peace, Pepper.