Pepper Adams - Julian (1975) [2006 Enja名盤Collection] CD-Rip

Recorded in 1975 at a Munich nightclub, Adams is accompanied by two of his Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra bandmates: pianist Walter Norris and bassist Georg Mraz, with Makaya Ntshoko capably filling the drummer’s chair. The one-plus set’s worth of music includes the title track, a moving ballad written by Adams and Mraz in honor of Cannonball Adderley, who’d died just five days earlier, and two other Adams compositions-“Jirge,” which the baritone saxophonist introduces by calling it “the most difficult single piece of music we have to work with” and the minor key “Ad Astra.”

That this was a special night for Adams-who is in fine fettle-is indicated by the choice of material (Vincent Youmans’ “Time on My Hands” is the only standard) which is rounded out by a blazing “Spacemaker” (by Norris) and three Thad Jones tunes-the tricky unison-themed “Three and One,” the very peppy “Tis” (at 2:54, the shortest track), and the elegant “Lady Luck,” played by Adams and Mraz. The caliber of musicianship and the intricately worked-out tunes raise this performance far above a routine club gig.


Tracks:

01. Jirge 9:01
02. Julian 7:07
03. Spacemaker 6:05
04. Ad Astra 7:42
05. Three And One 10:23
06. 'Tis 2:54
07. Time On My Hands 10:24
08. Lady Luck 7:11

Personnel:

Pepper Adams – baritone saxophone
Walter Norris – piano
George Mraz – bass
Makaya Ntshoko – drums