Pepper Adams Biography

[Brad]

There is a book about Pepper Adams coming out in September. Ethan Iverson in his Substack page, Transitional Technology, has an excerpt.

https://open.substack.com/pub/iverson/p/tt-288-pepper-adams-by-gary-carner?r=b9oem&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post

He also has a link to a website about Pepper Adams that looks fantastic.

http://www.pepperadams.com

[jlhoots]

Gary Carner did a book (discography) on Pepper Adams 10+ years ago.

[sonnymax]

Isn't this just a paperback version of Carner's 2021 biography, Reflectory: The Life and Music of Pepper Adams ?

17 minutes ago, jlhoots said:

Gary Carner did a book (discography) on Pepper Adams 10+ years ago.

[Brad]

Could be in that both have intros by Chick Corea. However, this one is shorter than Reflectory; maybe the author omitted something in this new one.  Different titles too. 

[medjuck]

Joy Road is  a discography. with some very few biographical notes and interviews.

[sonnymax]

4 hours ago, Brad said:

Could be in that both have intros by Chick Corea. However, this one is shorter than Reflectory; maybe the author omitted something in this new one.  Different titles too. 

Reflectory is hardcover, whereas Saxophone Trailblazer is paperback (smaller print). Different publishers, different titles?

Edited July 27, 2023 by sonnymax

[Kevin Bresnahan]

 

He mentions this at around the 12:30 mark. He has to edit it down for a paperback version. He also mentions it won't be called "Reflectory".

[Mark Stryker]

Gary self-published "Reflectory" as an e-book.  

"Saxophone Trailblazer" is a paperback version of "Reflectory" but it's an edited/condensed version published by an imprint of a university press. The original book was about 400 pages; this one is 254 pages. The earlier "Joy Road," published in 2012, was an expansive, annotated discography-chronology that was a precursor to the eventual full biography. 

Edited July 29, 2023 by Mark Stryker

[sonnymax]

Thanks for clarifying, Mark.

[T.D.]

1 hour ago, Mark Stryker said:

Gary self-published "Reflectory" as an e-book.  

"Saxophone Trailblazer" is a paperback version of "Reflectory" but is an edited/condensed version published by a small university press. The original book was about 400 pages; this one is 254 pages. The earlier "Joy Road," published in 2012, was an expansive, annotated discography-chronology that was a precursor to the eventual full biography. 

Thanks, Mark. I tried to investigate, noticed the page difference but stalled out.

SUNY Press is not particularly "small" IMO, though their Excelsior Editions subdivision may be. I've read a number of good SUNY publications and even own a few, though they're on rather arcane subjects.

Edited July 28, 2023 by T.D.

[Mark Stryker]

22 hours ago, T.D. said:

Thanks, Mark. I tried to investigate, noticed the page difference but stalled out.

SUNY Press is not particularly "small" IMO, though their Excelsior Editions subdivision may be. I've read a number of good SUNY publications and even own a few, though they're on rather arcane subjects.

Fair point about the size of the press. I'm editing my original post to remove the qualifier. Thanks.

[Brad]

On 7/28/2023 at 9:11 AM, Mark Stryker said:

Gary self-published "Reflectory" as an e-book.  

"Saxophone Trailblazer" is a paperback version of "Reflectory" but it's an edited/condensed version published by an imprint of a university press. The original book was about 400 pages; this one is 254 pages. The earlier "Joy Road," published in 2012, was an expansive, annotated discography-chronology that was a precursor to the eventual full biography. 

Thanks for the info. I didn’t know about the ebook but even if I had I wouldn’t have purchased it in that form. 

[T.D.]

2 hours ago, Mark Stryker said:

Fair point about the size of the press. I'm editing my original post to remove the qualifier. Thanks.

No big deal, just pedantry on my part. Grateful for the info on the book at hand.

[romualdo]

Currently reading Saxophone Trailblazer (Gary Carner - State Uni of NY 2023) & am enjoying immensely (of course I'm a Pepper Adams afficonado)

Like the recent Threadgill tome this Carner book is not chronological (do like that format)

He had a close relationship with the Ellington Orchestra - Harry Carney accompanied him when he purchased his first Selmer sax

Rex Stewart was a major mentor & father figure & he was also very close to Thad Jones.

The Joy Road project should accompany this book - both cover his many compositions

https://motema.com/releases/joy-road-the-complete-works-of-pepper-adams-volumes-1-5-2/