Pepper Adams' Joy Road: An Annotated Discography (Studies in Jazz)
In 1984, while recuperating from a leg injury, baritone saxophonist Pepper Adams was visited by Gary Carner, who was at the time a City College of New York graduate student researching a thesis on Adams’ life and works. The temporarily incapacitated Adams was happy to relate stories to his student biographer, but plans to publish his memoirs were shelved when Adams was diagnosed with lung cancer. Adams passed away in 1986, and while he did see a version of Carner’s manuscript, it’s doubtful he would have imagined the massive collection of material Carner has released 26 years after the saxophonist’s death. First is an annotated discography“Pepper Adams’ Joy Road”(Scarecrow) which in its 552 pages lists Adams’ entire recorded history, including unissued sessions dating back to 1947, and several filmed appearances. In addition, Carner produced a series of recordings that present all 43 of Adams’ compositions, and commissioned lyrics for seven of the ballads.(Jazz History Online)This book is peppered with interviews with Adams and other great musicians as well as vignettes drawn from the author's conversations with Adams. There are many behind-the-scenes anecdotes of other famous musicians, including john Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Dizzy Gillespie, Charles Mingus, and Duke Pearson....This first comprehensive discography to the works of Pepper Adams is a valuable addition to the jazz research literature.(American Reference Books Annual)A 2012 Holiday Gift Guide Choice!This book is a comprehensive listing of the baritone saxophonist's recordings, often expanded upon with illuminating comments and interviews.(Jazz Hot House)This is an overwhelming work of research that goes well beyond the usual concept of a discography, or even annotated discography. Carner’s dedication to documenting this under-honored musical giant shines throughout the book. Fans of Adams and jazz will be both greatly satisfied, and left wanting more as Carner finishes what will surely be a masterful biography.(Association for Recorded Sound Collections Journal (ARSC Journal))In recent years a few exemplary discographies have appeared that enhance the original purpose of the discography (namely, to list recordings) by adding information of a biographical nature or details about the music. Gary Carner’s thick work on baritone saxophone player Pepper Adams belongs to this new species of discographies that provide much more than dates and facts. In the mid-1980s Carner worked together with Adams on his autobiography and after Adams died in 1986, Carner interviewed many of Adams’s colleagues that had either made music with him or met him in the studio. With the help of many friends of discography he discovered several unpublished recordings…. Carner’sPepper Adams’ Joy Roadis a definitive book on baritone saxophonist Pepper Adams.(Jazzinstitut Darmstadt)