"Urban Dreams" An All-Star Tribute to Pepper Adams at Birdland

How do you bring attention to the compositional genius of a jazz artist, who, though internationally beloved by colleagues as one of the greatest baritone saxophonists to ever live, has been marginalized by history books and ignored as a composer? That, in sum, presents the quixotic challenge taken on by Gary Carner with his digital boxed set, JOY ROAD: The Complete Works of Pepper Adams (Volumes 1-5), coming September 11 from Motéma Music, and his exhaustively researched book, "Pepper Adams' Joy Road: An Annotated Discography," out simultaneously from Scarecrow Press. To launch his new book and music offerings, Carner has collaborated with Motéma to co-opt his regularly scheduled Sommelier Direct fall wine sales route, and turn it into a 30-city JOY ROAD release tour, in which he will preside over book and CD signings; emcee live music performances of Pepper's music; do radio publicity stops; and give college lectures.....

read more

How do you bring attention to the compositional genius of a jazz artist, who, though internationally beloved by colleagues as one of the greatest baritone saxophonists to ever live, has been marginalized by history books and ignored as a composer? That, in sum, presents the quixotic challenge taken on by Gary Carner with his digital boxed set, JOY ROAD: The Complete Works of Pepper Adams (Volumes 1-5), coming September 11 from Motéma Music, and his exhaustively researched book, "Pepper Adams' Joy Road: An Annotated Discography," out simultaneously from Scarecrow Press. To launch his new book and music offerings, Carner has collaborated with Motéma to co-opt his regularly scheduled Sommelier Direct fall wine sales route, and turn it into a 30-city JOY ROAD release tour, in which he will preside over book and CD signings; emcee live music performances of Pepper's music; do radio publicity stops; and give college lectures... with wine tastings all along the way. Birdland Jazz Club will present new Bevan Manson string quartet arrangements of Adams' ballads; a tribute to Pepper by world renowned composer David Amram; and on that double-billed evening, a special feature with Arturo O'Farrill and Lew Tabackin.

show less