Missing Recordings, 1966-1977

SEE BELOW

As promised, here’s some additional missing Pepper Adams radio, television,

and audience recordings that have as yet not turned up anywhere. If you have

any information about these gems, please reply below.

Mar 18, 1966: New York: Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra gig at Hunter

College’s Assembly Hall, broadcast on WABC Radio. The band plays pieces

from their young repertoire, plus compositions written by Johnny Richards and
Oliver Nelson. Billy Taylor functions as emcee.

1967: New York: David Amram soundtrack for the documentary film “We Are

Young.”

1967: New York: Joe Henderson Big Band rehearsals at Upsurge Studios.

Jan 26, 1967: Philadelphia: Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra TV broadcast on the

Mike Douglas Show. For personnel, see 4-6 May, 1966; Roger DeLillo replaces
Jimmy Nottingham, Richard Williams replaces Jimmy Owens, Marvin Stamm
replaces Bill Berry, Tom McIntosh replaces Garnett Brown, Roland Hanna replaces
Hank Jones, Bill Crow replaces Richard Davis.

Apr 27, 1967: New York: Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra live date at the Village
Vanguard for Solid State. Personnel: Thad Jones cornet; Snooky Young, Bill Berry,
Jimmy Nottingham, Richard Williams, Marvin Stamm tp; Bob Brookmeyer, Tom
McIntosh, Garnett Brown tb; Cliff Heather btb; Jerome Richardson as, ss, cl, fl;
Jerry Dodgion as fl, Eddie Daniels ts, cl; Pepper Adams bs, cl; Roland Hanna p;
Sam Herman g, shaker; Richard Davis b; Mel Lewis dm.

May 16, 1967: New York: Duke Pearson Big Band gig, sponsored by WLIB Radio.

Aug 19, 1967: New York: Lou Rawls date at the Rheingold Festival in Central Park.

Sept 2, 1967: Baltimore: Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra gig, probably for the Left Bank

Jazz Society.

cJan, 1968: New York: David Amram soundtrack for the documentary film U.S.

Oct 1, 1968: Toronto: Recording at Eastern Sound Studio for Norman, Craig and Kummel.

Dec 11, 1968: New York: Alternate tracks to Encounter, his twelfth date as a leader, with Zoot

Sims, Tommy Flanagan, Ron Carter and Elvin Jones, independently produced by Fred

Norsworthy but eventually sold to Prestige.

Feb 15, 1969: Greenville SC: Adams plays with the Furman University Pep Band at the

Furman-Davidson football game, televised on the Southern Conference Network.

Feb 21 and 28, 1969: Greenville SC: Atlantic  dates for Ernie Royal.

May 28, 1969: New York: Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra date for Solid State.

June 30, 1969: New York: David Amram movie date (The Arrangement). 

Aug 25, 1969: London: Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra gig at Ronnie Scott’s. Personnel:

Thad Jones flh, cornet; Snooky Young, Al Porcino, Danny Moore, Richard Williams tp; Eddie

Bert, Ashley Fennell, Jimmy Knepper tb; Cliff Heather btb; Jerome Richardson, Jerry Dodgion

as, ss, cl, fl; Eddie Daniels ts, cl; Joe Henderson ts; Pepper Adams bs, cl; Roland Hanna p;

Richard Davis b; Mel Lewis dm. BBC Radio broadcasts at least one evening. 

Sept 1, 1969: Birmingham: Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra gig at the Opposite Lock, broadcast

by the BBC. Personnel: Thad Jones flh, cornet; Snooky Young, Al Porcino, Danny Moore,

Richard Williams tp; Eddie Bert, Ashley Fennell, Jimmy Knepper tb; Cliff Heather btb;

Jerome Richardson, Jerry Dodgion as, ss, cl, fl; Eddie Daniels ts, cl; Joe Henderson ts;

Pepper Adams bs, cl; Roland Hanna p; Richard Davis b; Mel Lewis dm.

Sept 5, 1969: Stuttgart: Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra gig at Beethoven Saal’s

Stuttgarter Liederhalle, broadcast by SDR-TV.

Sept 7, 1969: Cologne: Additional tracks to Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra’s WDR broadcast

from Sartory-Festsaal. 

Sept 8, 1969: Paris: Additional tracks to Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra’s ORTF TV

broadcast from Maison de l’ORTF. 

Sept 12, 1969: Frankfurt: Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra’s HR broadcast from Jahrhunderthalle.

Sept 26, 1969: Englewood Cliffs NJ, Unissued Elvin Jones tracks for Blue Note, with

George Coleman, Joe Farrell, Wilbur Little, et al.

Dec 16 and 17, 1969, Copenhagen: Danish Radio broadcasts from the Montmartre

Jazzhus, with Pepper Adams bs; Ole Matthiessen p; Niels-Henning Orsted Pederson

b; Ole Streenberg dm.

June 28, 1970: Baltimore: Thad Jones-Pepper Adams Quintet gig at the Famous Ballroom, with

the rhythm section of Roland Hanna, Sam Jones and Mel Lewis, sponsored by the Left Bank

Jazz Society. 

Mar 14, 1971: Chicago: Gig opposite Sonny Stit at the North Park Apartment Hotel.

Mar 15-20, 1971: Chicago: Possible gig at North Park Apartment Hotel. See 14 Mar.

Mar 21, 1971: Chicago: Gig opposite Bill Evans at the North Park Apartment Hotel.

cMar 25, 1972: London: Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra at Ronnie Scott’s, broadcast by BBC TV.

May 12-13, 1972: Chicago: Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, possibly at the Jazz Showcase.

June 18, 1972: Asbury Park NJ: Additional tracks to Thad Jones septet WRLB broadcast from the Metropolitan Hotel, with Billy Campbell, Jerry Dodgion, Roland Hanna, Richard Davis, Mel Lewis, and Dee Dee Bridgewater added.

Sept 24-25, 1972: Edmonton, Canada: Gig at the University of Alberta’s Student Union (Room at the Top) broadcast on CKUA radio, with the rhythm section of Tommy Banks, Bob Cairns and Tom Doran.

Apr 22, 1973: Baltimore: Duke Pearson Orchestra at Famous Door, sponsored by the Left Bank Jazz Society, with Jerry Dodgion, Richie Cole, Frank Foster, Bob Cranshaw, Harold White, et al.

May 4, 1973: New York: David Amram at Horn and Hardart, with Charlie Chin, Gene Perla and Elvin Jones, broadcast on Channel 11 (Westinghouse Network). 

July 22, 1973: Baltimore: Thad Jones-Pepper Adams Quintet, sponsored by Left Bank Jazz Society, with Roland Hanna, George Mraz and Mel Lewis.

Aug 16: Copenhagen: Gig at Montmartre with Kenny Drew, Mats Vinding and Ed Thigpen, broadcast by Danish Radio.

Dec 9, 1973: Baltimore: Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra at the Famous Door, sponsored by the Left Bank Jazz Society.

Dec 16, 1973: Chicago: Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra at the Jazz Showcase cancelled due 

Dec 17, 1973: Chicago: Rescheduled 16 December Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra gig, at the Jazz Showcase cancelled due to weather.

1974: New York: Don Palmer’s private recordings of music for saxophone quartet, with Palmer and Richie Kamuca (as), Lee Konitz (ts) and Adams.

Feb 26, 1974: Tokyo: Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra television gig and FM Tokyo radio broadcast.

cMar 11: Tokyo: Sadao Watanabe FM-Tokyo radio broadcast with Roland Hanna. Later, Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra gig.

Mar 12-13: Tokyo: Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, recorded by Denon, with Cecil Bridgewater, Jimmy Knepper, Quentin Jackson, Jerry Dodgion, Roland Hanna, George Mraz, et al.

Mar 28-31, 1974: Chicago: Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra at the Jazz Showcase.

May 6, 1974: New York: David Amram gig at New York University’s Loeb Student Center.

May 24 or 25, 1974: West Paterson NJ: Gig at Three Sisters with Zoot Sims and possibly Jimmy Rowles.

June 2, 1974: New York: WBAI radio interview with Larry Davis.

June 29, 1974: Bussum, Netherlands: Two rehearsals, then Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra AVRO radio/television broadcast from Theater Het Spant.

July 5, 1974: Montreux: Adams arrives from Barcelona, then Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra at the Congress Hall, broadcast by RTSR Radio.

July 12, 1974: Copenhagen: Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra at Montmartre.

July 18, 1974: Munich: Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra at the Domicile, broadcast on BR radio.

July 28, 1974: Todi, Italy: Thad Jones gig, with Jerry Dodgion, Walter Norris, George Mraz and Mel Lewis, at the Umbria Jazz Festival, broadcast on RAI radio.

July 29, 1974: Perugia, Italy: Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra at the Umbria Jazz Festival, broadcast on RAI radio.

Nov 9, 1974: Rochester NY: Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra at the Top of the Plaza, broadcast by PBS on the program “Live From the Top.”

Jan 30, 1975: Los Angeles: Thad Jones/Mel Lewis television broadcast.

Aug 26, 1975: Helsinki: More tracks from Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra at Hotel Hesperia, broadcast by YLE radio.

Aug 29, 1975: Sodertalje, Sweden: More tracks from Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra at Estrad Concert Hall, broadcast by Swedish Radio.

Aug 30, 1975: Holbaek, Denmark: More tracks from Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra at Vaerkstedt, broadcast by Danish Radio. Lodging at Hotell Holmia in Stockholm.

Sept 2: Copenhagen: Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra outdoor gig at Grabrodretorv, broadcast on DR TV.

Sept 9, 1975: Munich: Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra at the Domicile, broadcast by BR radio.

c16 Sept, 1975: Munich: Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra at the Domicile. At least one night is broadcast by BR.

Sept 28, 1975: Baltimore: Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra at the Famous Ballroom, sponsored by the Left Bank Jazz Society. 

Oct 26, 1975: Tokyo: Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra daytime studio performance for Denon at Yubin-Chyokin Hall. 

Nov 2, 1975: Tokyo: Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra daytime studio performance for Denon. 

Nov 28-30, 1975: Chicago: Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra gig at the Jazz Showcase.

cMar 2-8, 1976: Chicago: Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra at the Jazz Showcase.

cMar 28, 1976: Frankfurt: Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra HR radio broadcast.

May 5-9, 1976: Chicago: Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra at the Jazz Showcase, with Mike Wolff on piano.

June 18, 1976: Rotterdam: Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra at the De Doelen Concert Hall, broadcast on NOS radio from the International NOS Jazz Festival.

July 16, 1976: The Hague: Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra RAI radio broadcast.

July 19, 1976: Verona: Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra RAI radio broadcast at the Teatro Romano.

July 22, 1976: Juan-les-Pins, France: Additonal tracks from the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra at the Antibes Jazz Festival, broadcast by Radio France.

July 24, 1976: Sitges, Spain: Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra TVE television broadcast.

July 26-31, 1976: Munich: Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra at the Domicile. Part of the engagement was broadcast on SWF radio. 

Sept 13, 1976: Passau, Germany: Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra BR radio broadcast.

Sept 15, 1976: Stuttgart: Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra at the Muzikpodium, broadcast on SDR radio.

Sept 16, 1976: Waldshut, Germany: Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra SDR radio broadcast.

Sept 19, 1976: Frankfurt: Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra HR radio broadcast.

Sept 23-24, 1976: Copenhagen: Additional tracks from Thad Jones-Pepper Adams Quintet at Montmartre, with Kenny Drew, et al., broadcast by Danish Radio.

cNov: Cleveland: Additional tracks from Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra radio broadcast from at the Agora Ballroom.

cNov 4: Philadelphia: Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra radio broadcast from the Academy of Music.

Feb 18, 1977: Lauwe, Belgium: Gig at Germana with Tony Bauwens Trio.

Feb 21, 1977: Knokke, Belgium: Gig at New Dixieland with Tony Bauwens Trio.

Feb 24: Genk, Belgium: Gig at Queen of the South with Tony Bauwens Trio.

Feb 28, 1977: Anderlecht, Belgium: Additional tracks from Adams gig at Witte Hoed with Tony Bauwens Trio, broadcast on BRT Radio.

Apr 8-10, 1977: Chicago: Vi Redd gig at the Jazz Showcase, with Curtis Fuller and the rhythm section of Stu Katz, Eddie DeHaas and Wilbur Campbell. 

Apr 11-14, 1977: Chicago: Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra at the Jazz Showcase.

July 13-15, 1977: Nice: Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra at La Grande Parade du Jazz, broadcast by Radio France. 

July 17, 1977: Nice: Thad Jones Sextet gig at La Grande Parade du Jazz.

Aug 11, 1977: Copenhagen: Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra at Montmartre. 

Aug 16, 1977: Oslo: Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra at Club 7.

Missing Pepper Adams Recordings

SEE BELOW

Much as I did last month, this post is a way of promulgating

missing Pepper Adams recordings. It’s my hope that by

making these better known, their chance of

discovery is increased. If you know anything about these recordings,

please reply to this blog. An addenda will be posted next

month. Have a great rest of the summer!

51000

Early 1951, unissued recording, Sam's Record Store, Detroit:

Billy Horner tp; Bob Pierson ts; Pepper Adams bs; unknown p;

unknown b unknown dm; unknown voc.

“We played background for something,” said Bob Pierson about t

his commercial gig. "It wasn't jazz. I think it was for a singer." Sam's Record

Store was located on Hastings Street.

PEPPER ADAMS

540000

c. 1954, Blue Bird Inn, Detroit: Pepper Adams bs; other musicians.

  The jazz fan Terry Weiss made live recordings at the club and possibly

elsewhere. Her tapes have never been found.

PEPPER ADAMS

540000

c. 1954, TV broadcast, Detroit: Pepper Adams bs; Tommy

Flanagan p; Beans Richardson b; Elvin Jones dm. 

According to the saxophonist Bennie Maupin, Adams possibly appeared on

the show “Ed McKenzie’s Dance Party.” McKenzie’s program was one of the first

TV shows in Detroit that featured live music and it preceded Soupy Sales’ show,

“Soupy’s On.” “Ed McKenzie,” said Maupin, “had been a radio personality. He

was a huge jazz fan. He’d play the jazz recordings on the radio, on WXYZ.

On a Saturday, I saw Dizzy, Max Roach/Clifford Brown, Earl Bostic; a whole host

of musicians who were playing in the local clubs. They would come on and play

a little bit. He’d do a little interview, and he would close out the show by doing

another tune at the end of the show.” McKenzie began on WXYZ radio in 1952.

His two-hour TV show was aired on Channel 7 in Detroit. The Rouge Lounge

was one club whose musicians were featured. Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis, Art

Tatum and Charlie Parker were others that appeared on the program. It’s not

known if any video still exists nor whether the group also included a guest soloist.

PEPPER ADAMS

540600

c. June, 1954, unissued demo recording, United Sound Studio, Detroit:

Pepper Adams bs; Barry Harris p; Beans Richardson b; Elvin Jones dm. 

This was a demo that Pepper made to land a record deal. The only copy that

has surfaced was one that was sold on Ebay a few years ago.

SONNY STITT

550328

c. June, 1955, World Stage, Detroit: Sonny Stitt ts; Pepper Adams

bs; Kenny Burrell g; Tommy Flanagan p; Bill Burrell e-b; Hindal Butts dm. 

This concert was produced by the New Music Society and the original copy was

sent to a record producer in California.

MAYNARD FERGUSON

561200, 570105, 570106, 570200, 570300

According to Ken Poston, Director of the Los Angeles Jazz Institute, Maynard

Ferguson’s big band was recorded by Wally Heider at Peacock Lane. The Ferguson

band was quite active in Los Angeles at the end of 1956 through the c21 March

1957. Because Adams played in Ferguson's band in Los Angeles during that period

(and then toured with the band across the U.S. back to New York), it's likely that

Pepper Adams played with the band at Peacock Lane, possibly on a night that Heider

was recording. So far, no tapes have surfaced.

PEPPER ADAMS

580300

c. June, 1954, private recording, Howard Kanovitz's loft, New York:

Pepper Adams bs; Don Friedman p; Henry Grimes b; Elvin Jones dm. 

This could be still owned by Kanovitz's estate.

PEPPER ADAMS

580803

3 August 1958, Great South Bay Jazz Festival, Great River NY:

Pepper Adams bs; Kenny Burrell g; George Duvivier b; Elvin Jones dm.

a Charlie Parker tune United Artists unissued

b Benny Golson tune

c Sonny Rollins tune

According to a 6 September 1958 article in Cash Box

(see https://instagram.com/p/BNmrHlVBiBp/), United Artists recorded this live date for the

first of three releases for the new label. It remains unissued. Other tunes were likely

recorded. The Golson and Rollins tunes may be Stablemates and Oleo respectively.

According to Michael Cuscuna, “UA’s surviving tapes was very spotty. There was

absolutely no trace of a live Pepper Adams date nor any outtakes for the great live albums

that they did do (Randy Weston, Al & Zoot etc). The only thing I can be sure of is that there is

absolutely no trace in the tape vaults.”

THELONIOUS MONK

590227

27 February 1959, rehearsal, Hall Overton's loft, New York: Donald Byrd tp;

Eddie Bert tb; Robert Northern frh; Jay McAllister tu; Phil Woods as; Charlie

Rouse ts; Pepper Adams bs; Thelonious Monk p; Sam Jones b; Arthur Taylor dm.

Audio tapes made at Overton and David X. Young's loft by photographer W. Eugene

Smith are housed at Duke University. Reels 100-112 are rehearsal tapes of Monk and pianist

Hall Overton working out arrangements or their big band rehearsing for the upcoming Town Hall

concert. The tape done on 27 February 1959 is denoted as “Mostly run-throughs with Monk at

the piano.” Other tapes may exist from January and February rehearsals.

BENNY GOODMAN

590417

17 April 1959, privately recorded rehearsal, New York: John Frosk, Taft Jordan tp;

unknown remainder of tp section; Rex Peer tb; unknown remainder of tb section;

Benny Goodman cl; Herb Geller, Vinnie Dean as; Bob Wilber, Babe Clarke,

Buddy Tate ts; Pepper Adams bs, bcl; Hank Jones p; Turk Van Lake g; Scott LaFaro

b; Roy Burns dm; Donna Musgrove voc.

Although Buddy Tate wasn’t a member of the upcoming touring group, he may have been

at the rehearsal. It's possible that Musgrove was subbing for Dakota Staton, who would be touring

with the band as a featured vocalist.

About the three weeks of Goodman rehearsals, of which this was a part, Bob Wilber wrote

in his autobiography Music Was Not Enough, “Benny was relaxed, obviously enjoying the idea of

putting a big band together again and intrigued with the new arrangements he had commissioned

from Bill Holman, Shorty Rogers and Gil Evans. Bill had done a chart on After You've Gone that

sounded more like Kenton than Goodman. Nevertheless, Benny enjoyed the new sounds and

worked hard to get the charts right. . . . [The band] was an interesting mixture of old and modern styles,

racially balanced and with no really big names. I think that Benny had had such an unfortunate

experience with the all-star band he had put together in the early 1950s for the disastrous tour opposite

ouis Armstrong, that he was happy to have eager, young unknowns who were excited and thrilled to

be playing with him.”

PEPPER ADAMS

591200

c. December 1959, New York: Pepper Adams bs; Tommy Flanagan p; George

Duvivier b; Dannie Richmond dm.

Stinson unissued

DONALD BYRD-PEPPER ADAMS

610300

c March 1961, TV broadcast, Indianapolis: Donald Byrd tp; Pepper Adams bs;

Herbie Hancock p; Laymon Jackson b; Joe Dukes dm.

I'm an Old Cowhand

QUINCY JONES

610422

22 April 1961, radio broadcast, Birdland, New York: Clark Terry, Johnny Coles tp;

Curtis Fuller, Frank Rehak, Mickey Gravine tb; Juiius Watkins frh; Phil Woods

as; Eric Dixon ts; Pepper Adams bs; Patti Bown p; Les Spann g, fl; other musicians.

G'won Train

Caravan

Stockholm Sweetnin'

The Midnight Sun Will Never Set

Airmail Special

An acetate of this broadcast was owned by Boris Rose.

QUINCY JONES

610429

29 April 1961, radio broadcast, Birdland, New York: Clark Terry, Johnny Coles tp;

Curtis Fuller, Frank Rehak, Mickey Gravine tb; Juiius Watkins frh; Phil Woods

as; Eric Dixon ts; Pepper Adams bs; Patti Bown p; Les Spann g, fl; other musicians.

An acetate of this broadcast was owned by Boris Rose.

METROPOLITAN JAZZ OCTET

610700

c. July 1961, Universal Recording Studios, Chicago:Tom Hilliard tp; Pepper

Adams as; Ron Kolber bs; other musicians.

PEPPER ADAMS

611100

mid or late November 1961, audience recording, The Topaz, Louisville:

John Alberding as; Raymond Johnson p; Gene Klingman b; Boots

Brown dm; GUEST SOLOIST: Pepper Adams bs.

      Adams was guest soloist with “The Trademarks,” the Topaz’s house quartet. The

engagement lasted from 14-26 November. Sometime during the week of 28 April 1986,

WFPL-FM (89.3) in Louisville broadcasted a performance recorded at the club. It’s not

known if audio still exists.

JOE GALLIVAN

620000

c. 1962, unissued demo recording, New York: Don Ellis, Johnny Coles, Donald

Byrd tp; Julius Watkins frh; Eddie Bert, Jimmy Knepper tb; Eric Dolphy as;

Pepper Adams bs; unknown b; Joe Gallivan dm; other musicians.

Joe Gallivan told interviewer Dave Segal on 26 May 2016 (see thestranger.com), “I had this

big band in New York in the early '60s. I went to New York in '58; I was hovering between New

York and Miami into the early '60s. . . . I had this music for 10 brass, bass, drums, and saxophone

. . . . I called Eric Dolphy and he told me, “No problem. I'll be there. Tell me the time.” I said, “3

o'clock on Monday,” and he was there. Even though I was young and could write a book of things

I didn't know then, people were into music. . . . It was another CBS experience. I made an acetate

and gave it to Teo Macero. I put a little piece of tape on it, so if he listened to it, he would have

to break the tape. So I give it to him and after a few months I call him. “Did you listen to it?”

“Yeah. It's not the kind of thing we're interested in.” “Can I pick up the acetate?” They were valuable

in those days. It was expensive to get an acetate made. So I went to pick up the acetate at CBS. He

had not even listened to it! In the band I had Byrd, John Coles, Don Ellis, Eddie Bert, Jimmy

Knepper, Julius Watkins, Eric Dolphy, Pepper Adams. The band was great. The music business missed

an opportunity. We auditioned for this guy, a producer of sorts. . . . We changed the band a little bit and

for the audition we had Herbie Hancock on piano, Elvin Jones on drums, Donald Byrd and Pepper

Adams. If you had a record of this band now, you'd probably sell a million copies. But he gave us the

short shrift. The band fell apart when we were supposed to sign with Warwick and two weeks before

the date, Warwick went out of business, so we never did the date. It was kind of tragic. I had all the

music recopied. I spent my last $700 having all the music recopied. So I didn't have any money and

we had no date. So I ended up having to take a job playing with somebody else. That band fell through.

I worked my way back to Miami.”

CHARLES MINGUS

620826

Possible live recording at the Five Spot by United Artists.

MARCUS BELGRAVE

630620

This date is likely destroyed, due to the catastrophic Universal Music Group fire of June 1,

2008, where the master was stored. See https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/11/magazine/universal-fire-master-recordings.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage 

Bennie Maupin, in a 2014 email to me and a subsequent interview, said: “For the record, please

note that Pepper is absolutely one of my many early Detroit influences. As a matter of fact, he was

prominently featured on the very first professional recording of my career. It took place in Detroit

at a place known for presenting decades of great music: The Graystone Ballroom. The featured artist

was master/mentor trumpeter Marcus Belgrave. Others featured were pianist Kirk Lightsey,

bassist Cecil McBee, trombonist George Bohanon, and a great drummer who left us much to soon,

George Goldsmith. It was just a wonderful moment because we were right there recording everything

on the ballroom floor. The Graystone Ballroom was quite beautiful. I heard a lot of live music there,

with Count Basie’s Orchestra, Dinah Washington, various bands that came through. . . It was great

moment for me to be in that circle of musicians.”

MARCUS BELGRAVE

630626

This date is likely destroyed, due to the catastrophic Universal Music Group fire of June 1,

2008, where the master was stored. See 630620.

DIZZY REECE

630700a

c. Summer 1963, CBC TV broadcast, Toronto: Dizzy Reece tp; John Gilmore ts;

Pepper Adams bs; John Hicks p; Ali Muhammad Jackson b; Charli Persip dm.

This program was taped during the time when the band also backed Jimmy Witherspoon.

See 630700b.

JIMMY WITHERSPOON

630700b

c. Summer 1963, CBC TV broadcast, Toronto: Dizzy Reece tp; John Gilmore ts;

Pepper Adams bs; John Hicks p; Ali Muhammad Jackson b; Charli Persip dm;

Jimmy Witherspoon voc.

a Evenin’

b Ain't Nobody's Business

This program was entitled Sixty Minutes with Spoon, produced by Daryl Duke. Thirty minutes

of it was broadcast on 11 February 1964 on the program Quest.

LIONEL HAMPTON

640707

c. 7 July 1964, WNEW TV broadcast, possibly Plugged Nickel, Chicago: Martin

Banks, Jimmy Owens, Al Bryant tp; Garnett Brown, Sam Hurt tb; Ed Pazant,

Bobby Plater as; Andy McGhee, Fred Jackson ts; Pepper Adams bs; Billy Mackel

g; Lionel Hampton vib, voc; Lawrence Burgan b; Floyd Williams dm.

a Evenin’

b Ain't Nobody's Business

LIONEL HAMPTON

640723

23 July 1964, audience recording, Antibes Jazz Festival, Juan-les-Pins, France:

Martin Banks, Benny Bailey tp; Garnett Brown, Sam Hurt tb; Ed Pazant,

Bobby Plater as, fl; Ed Pazant ts, cl; Pepper Adams, Cecil Payne bs; Billy

Mackel g; Lionel Hampton vib, voc; Lawrence Burgan b; Floyd Williams dm.

a Sophisticalted Lady

LIONEL HAMPTON

640725

25 July 1964, audience recording, Knokke, Belgium: Same as 23 July, 1964.

a Sophisticated Lady

JIMMY HEATH

650314

14 March 1965, private recording, Madison Club, Baltimore: Jimmy Heath

as, ts; Pepper Adams bs; Gus Simms p; Wilbur Little b; Bertell Knox dm.

Produced by the Left Bank Jazz Society.

THAD JONES/MEL LEWIS

651126

a     Ah — That’s Freedom

b     Big Dipper

Thad Jones on cornet and flh. Adams on bs only. The band would continue to

rehearse at midnight nearly every Monday night until their 7 February 1966 premiere

Monday night performance at the Village Vanguard. One rehearsal took place at Upsurge

Studio (on 19th Street) but most took place at A&R Studios on 48th Street. Two others

took place at A&R Studios on Seventh Avenue and at Soundmixer’s Studio on Broadway.

While Adams attended the first rehearsal, it's not known how many others he attended.

Roland Hanna, not Hank Jones, made the very first rehearsal. Phil Woods and Gene Quill

also attended the rehearsals. According to Jimmy Owens, the first two arrangements the

band rehearsed were A — That’s Freedom and Big Dipper. Bob Brookmeyer brought his

chart on St. Louis Blues to the second or third rehearsal. According to Mel Lewis in Dave

Lisik and Eric Allen’s 50 Years at the Village Vanguard, Alan Grant on his WABC radio

program played Thad/Mel practice tapes done at A&R Studios to promote the band for

their upcoming opening engagement at the Village Vanguard. Whether any collectors recorded

these performance off the air or whether the tapes still exist in the Mel Lewis Archives, in Alan

Grant’s collection or elsewhere is unknown.

BLUE MITCHELL

651212

12 December 1965, private recording, Madison Club, Baltimore: Blue Mitchell

tp; Pepper Adams bs; Duke Pearson p; Ron Carter b; John Dentz dm.

Produced by the Left Bank Jazz Society.

THAD JONES/MEL LEWIS

660124

24 January 1966, private recording of rehearsal, Stea-Phillips Studio, New York:

had Jones cornet, flh; Bob Brookmeyer vtb; Jerry Dodgion as, ss, fl; Jerome

Richardson as, ss, cl, fl; Joe Farrell ts, ss, fl; Pepper Adams bs, cl; Mel Lewis dm; other musicians. 

It’s unclear if the audio still exists.

PEPPER ADAMS

660403

3 April 1966, private recording, Crystal Ballroom, Baltimore: Morris Goldberg as, cl;

Carlos Ward ts; Pepper Adams bs; Dollar Brand p; Donald Moore b; Mel Lewis dm.

Produced by the Left Bank Jazz Society.

PEPPER ADAMS

661211

11 December 1966, private recording, Famous Ballroom, Baltimore: Frank

Foster ts; Pepper Adams bs; Bobby Timmons p; Cecil McBee b; Freddie Waits dm.

Produced by the Left Bank Jazz Society.

DIANE DESTRY

670000

c1967, private recording, New York: Overdubs: Natalie Pavone tp; Frank Vicari ts;

Pepper Adams bs.

a Sho Nuff I Need You unissued

b What’s There About the Man  

c If I Get Another Chance

d Baby I’m Home

e The Big City

f I Could Never Be Your Woman

g Look Who’s Been Untrue

h How Can I Make It Through the Night

i Love Is a Jigsaw Puzzle

j Can I Please Come In

k Tonight’s Gonna Be Another Lonely Night

Destry was a vocalist.

THAD JONES/MEL LEWIS                                                                          

680720

20 July 1968, audience recording or radio broadcast, Pit Inn, Tokyo: Thad Jones flh;

Bob Brookmeyer vtb; Jimmy Knepper, Garnett Brown tb; Cliff Heather btb; Jerry

Dodgion as, fl; Jerome Richardson as, cl, fl; Seldon Powell ts; Eddie Daniels ts; Pepper

Adams bs, cl; Roland Hanna p; Kunimitsu Inaba b; Mel Lewis dm.

a Lover Man

b Bachafillen

c unknown title

d Don’t Git Sassy

e Back Bone

f  Don't Ever Leave Me

g St. Louis Blues

  -c is a solo piano feature.

             Adams plays clarinet on -g only. See 680422. 

According to bassist Richard Davis, in a 2014 email to the author, Davis left the gig early and

Inaba took his place. Because the Pit Inn was a small room for a big band, it’s conceivable that Thad

Jones scaled the band down to twelve pieces and Davis left the club along with the entire trumpet section

before the final set.

This is the only known recorded gig from the band's first “tour” of Japan. Elvin Jones’ future wife,

Keiko, had agreed to put together eleven days worth of gigs. There was a great deal of excitement

because this was the band's first overseas trip. An itinerary of events was given in advance to members

of the band. On the morning of 11 July the band, along with seven of the musicians’ wives, waited at

JFK Airport to board a plane but the promised tickets never arrived at the gate. Thad Jones and Mel Lewis

were left with no alternative but to charge the tickets on their American Express cards, without which

the orchestra might’ve dissolved. To make matters worse, despite the itinerary, only one gig was arranged

for the band in advance. The orchestra was in limbo each day until gigs could be acquired. The photographer

K. Abe lent his life savings to pay for airplane tickets to get the group back to New York. After Mel Lewis

returned, he paid Abe back by leveraging his residence with a second mortgage.

  According to Jerry Dodgion, Jerome Richardson made the trip and the trumpet section on the tour

was Snooky Young, Jimmy Nottingham, Danny Moore and Richard Williams. Richard Davis remembered

the following musicians: Thad Jones, Mel Lewis, Richard Williams, Garnett Brown, Bob Brookmeyer,

Cliff Heather, Eddie Daniels, Pepper Adams and Roland Hanna.

PEPPER ADAMS

691226

26 December 1969, Danish Radio broadcast, Montmartre Jazzhus, Copenhagen:

Pepper Adams bs; Ole Matthiessen p; Niels-Henning Orsted Pederson b; Ole Streenberg

dm.

a What Is This Thing Called Love

b Day Dream

c Blues in E-flat

d Mean What You Say

e El Cineo

f Four

g Theme

h Autumn Leaves

i Bye, Bye Blackbird

j Theme

     It’s not known if a tape of this performance still exists. 

PEPPER ADAMS

700128

20 January 1970, Swedish Radio broadcast, Kultur Huset, Stockholm: Pepper Adams

bs; unknown p; possibly Red Mitchell b; Egil Johansen dm.

     Performance for the program “Happy Jazz.” Possible sidemen include pianists Bengt Hallberg,

Lars Sjosten or Jan Johansson, and bassists Georg Riedel or Sture Nordin, if not Red Mitchell.

BILL BERRY-WILLIS CONOVER JAZZ BAND

700329

The group’s first gig was on Easter Sunday at the Roosevelt Hotel, led by Berry with Conover

as the emcee. The band under Berry’s leadership lasted for six months, when he left for California

with the Merv Griffin Show.

THAD JONES/MEL LEWIS

700802

2 August 1970, audience recording, Cordello Avenue School, Central Islip, NY:

Thad Jones flh; Snooky Young, Danny Moore tp; Eddie Bert, Benny Powell,

Jimmy Knepper tb; Jerome Richardson as, ss, fl; Jerry Dodgion as, cl, fl; Billy

Harper ts, fl; Eddie Daniels ts, cl, fl; Pepper Adams bs, cl; Roland Hanna p; Bob

Dougherty b; Mel Lewis dm.

a Low Down

b It Only Happens Every Time

c Back Bone

d Willow Tree

e Fingers

f Us

g A Child Is Born

h Central Park North

i Tow Away Zone

j Tow Away Zone

The concert was sponsored by the International Art of Jazz. A recording of it was donated

to the Library of Congress. It is housed in the Ann Sneed Collection.

Possible additional personnel might be Al Porcino, Marvin Stamm tp; Cliff Heather btb.

Adams plays clarinet on -h only. See 680422. 

THE NEW YORK BAND

710710

The New York Band was led by Al Cohn. The big band component of this Louis Armstrong

Tribute may have included Eddie Bert tb; Charlie Fowlkes bs; Ben Aronov p. Pepper Adams likely

performed with Dizzy Gillespie. Bassist Bob Haggart may have performed with Jimmy McPartland

or a specific small group. According to Thomas Hustad, saxophonist Bobby Brown also performed

at the concert.

Tunes were Blues for Pops (with Dizzy Gillespie), Solitude (with Charlie Fowlkes), several other

unknown tunes, and a blues finale with all participants.

THAD JONES/MEL LEWIS

730928

28 or 29 September 1973, audience recording, Great American Music Hall,

San Francisco: Thad Jones flh; Jon Faddis, Jim Bossy, Steve Furtado, Cecil

ridgewater tp; Billy Campbell, Quentin Jackson, Jimmy Knepper tb; Cliff Heather

btb; Jerry Dodgion, Ed Xiques ss, as, fl; Billy Harper, Ron Bridgewater ts,

cl; Pepper Adams bs; Roland Hanna p; George Mraz b; Mel Lewis dm.

           It’s unclear if the audio still exists.

THAD JONES/MEL LEWIS

740313

13 Mar 1974, Toshi Center Hall, Tokyo: Same as 12 March 1974, add possibly

Dee Dee Bridgewater voc.*

a Once Around Nippon-Columbia (J) LP: YX-7557

b Kids Are Pretty People Nippon-Columbia unissued

c Say It Softly

d 61st and Richard

e A Child Is Born

f Back Bone Nippon-Columbia (J) LP: YX-7557

g Bachafillen Nippon-Columbia unissued

h I Love You*

i The Farewell

j Fingers

k The Intimacy of the Blues

-a is likely a spliced version of this take and -d is from 12 March 1974.

-h might be a feature for Dee Dee Bridgewater. The band also performed it as an instrumental.

See 680422. 

PEPPER ADAMS-KAI WINDING

780804

Hnita Jazz Club gigs took place at the Torengebouw. 

A short potion portion of footage exists at http://cobra.be/cm/cobra/videozone/archief/redactietips-cobra/jazzmiddelheim-museum/1.1054371. It’s not known if more footage exists.

Bunink is the correct surname, not Bunick.

See note on 760714 regarding the Hnita Jazz Club.

PER HUSBY

790321

21 March 1979, audience recording, Club 7, Oslo: Same as 18 March 1979:

PEPPER ADAMS

791029

           According to a 31 October 1979 article in the Hartford Courant, the University

of Hartford’s radio station broadcast all three sets, nearly four hours of music. The station’s disk

jockey, Mike Crispino, served as host, and local radio personality Mort Fega interviewed the

musicians between sets. Tunes performed were Three Little Words and What Is This Thing Called

Love (trio only).

PEPPER ADAMS 

800429

c29 April 1980, Le Jazz Bar C&J, Montreal: Pepper Adams bs; Ivan Symonds g;

Nick Aldrich b; Charlie Duncan dm.

Audience recording made by Cisco Normand. 

DIZZY GILLESPIE DREAM BAND

810216b

Two shows were done of the same material: an afternoon program and an evening program.

Adams took a solo on “Con Alma” in both shows.

ANGEL RANGELOV

821114

           Dave Johnson is the correct name, not Jensen. In an email to the author on 30

May 2016, Johnson said, “I remember Bill Pierce was in the sax section and Klaus

Suonsaari was the drummer. If I remember, there was a rehearsal in the afternoon and

the gig at night. Several of us had dinner with Pepper in between. . . . Angel was studying at

Berklee at the time.”

PEPPER ADAMS

851015

c. 15 October 1985, RAI TV broadcast, Salon delle Feste, San Remo Jazz

Festival, San Remo, Italy: Pepper Adams, Ricardo Zegna p; Dodo Goya b;

Ronnie Burrage dm.

Audio only. It’s not known if the video still exists.