Pepper Adams - Pepper (1996) 320 kbps

Tracklist

1. Twelfth & Pingree [Live] (Adams, Pepper) 9:39
2. A Child Is Born [Live] (Jones, Thad) 8:16
3. Well, You Needn't [Live] (Monk, Thelonious) 8:57
4. Bossa Nouveau [Live] (Adams, Pepper) 9:29
5. Osage Autumn (Richmond, Kim) 6:37
6. My Funny Valentine (Rodgers, Richard/Hart, Lorenz) 5:12

This CD reissue has the four songs recorded by baritone great Pepper Adams for an obscure 1975 Enja quartet LP with pianist Walter Norris, bassist George Mraz and drummer Makaya Ntshoko plus one number apiece from Adams' two Justin Time albums with Denny Christianson's big band in 1986. Although Pepper was seriously ill by the mid-'80s, he plays quite well on his features with the orchestra ("Osage Autumn" and "My Funny Valentine"). However, it is for his numbers with Norris (two originals, "A Child Is Born" and a powerful version of "Well You Needn't") that this fine hard bop-oriented CD is most highly recommended. ~Scott Yanow