Harding/ Duval/ Rosen

Harding/ Duval/ Rosen: Invocation For Pepper

by Derek Taylor
January 5, 2003

There were those who came before him on the horn, but Pepper Adams established himself as one of the first baritone saxophonists to truly test his instrument in freer improvisational contexts. His work with Mingus’ Workshop offers ample evidence to the truth of the claim. Just drop the needle on Blues and Roots, for instance, specifically “Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting,” for a taste of his ability to blow ecstatically without losing sight of the traits that make his horn such ...