JIM PEPPER LIVES!

BugsySiegel · May-9th-2008, 01:02 PM

For those who know, or want to know, about the late Native American jazz saxophonist, Jim Pepper -- the website jimpepperlives.wordpress.com was created originally to hold articles I've been writing on and related to music and the profound he's had on contemporary jazz and other forms of music. Pepper created a whole new genre of music by taking the Native songs and chants he learned growing up, from his father and grandfather, and from pow wows, and integrating them into the jazz idiom (and in the process adding a little spice from reggae, country&western, R&B, rock, folk, free improv, bebop and more), He was heavily influenced by Don Cherry, Ornette Coleman, Sonny Rollins, Coltrane, and even Johnny Cash, as well as his own family's musical heritage).

Pepper continues to influence musicans today -- from jazz to heavy metal, from folk to techno-punk, to rock and even circling back to modern pow wow and other Native American music. Today's masters, like Joe Lovano, Dave Liebman, Bob Moses, Ed Schuller and too many more to mention here, still talk about the profound impact their collaborations with Pepper continue to have on their own playing -- often asking themselves before a solo or before picking up their instruments, "What would Jim do here"?

I welcome any feedback from anyone who has been a fan of Pepper's music, who knew him, who performed &/or recorded with him, or has any stories, memories, insights, recordings, etc. to share. I'd like to turn jimpepperlives.wordpress.com into a sort of comprehensive clearinghouse of information about this little-recognized but extremely important player in the jazz world -- including links to related musicians' sites.

Please send anything to me either through this thread or directly to bmsiegel@comcast.net. I would love to hear from anyone who has anything to say about him or his music -- its effect on your own music, on your life, or just memories or reactions to listening to his music today. Let's let the world know that the memory of Jim Pepper is very much alive today!

As Pepper would say, instead of "good-bye" or "See you later":

I see you now!
Bill

Ron Thorne · November-30th-2008, 05:13 PM

Bill (Bugsy) Siegel has done a wonderful job of documenting and commenting on the life and music of Jim Pepper on his Jim Pepper Lives! website. The link is below.

http://jimpepperlives.wordpress.com/

I had the pleasure of meeting and spending a couple of hours with urban American Indian jazz artist John-Carlos Perea yesterday, a young man currently working on his doctorate dissertation on Jim Pepper and his music at UC Berkeley.

John-Carlos Perea and me at Kaladi Brothers Café.

http://www.myspace.com/johncarlosperea

There's a common thread here, since John-Carlos and I are both friends with Bill Siegel.

Gerardo A · December-15th-2008, 06:21 PM

I saw in a record store here in town a VG (perhaps even VG+) copy of the "Pepper's Pow Wow" LP for $29 dollars. Do you guys think I should get it, or I should maybe wait to find a better price on eBay or something?

Ron Thorne · December-15th-2008, 07:08 PM

If that's the original die cut cover version Embryo released, that's a pretty fair price, Gerardo. Does it have a Promotional Copy sticker on it? I would try to stay with a VG+ or better rating, if possible.

There's a NM/NM copy on eBay now for $24.99 + 6.80 s&h. It has two promotional stickers on the cover, which is not unusual. These LPs are getting harder to find all the time. Glad that I scored my copy about 10 years ago.

Gerardo A · December-15th-2008, 10:50 PM

Thanks for the answer, Ron! Yeah it was the Embryo release, and I don't remember any sticker on it. I think I'm going back tomorrow then to take a look at the record itself, because the one on eBay you linked to looks in better (but not way better) condition. Plus I like the owner of the record store, so I guess I'd prefer to give him the money... I'll report back if I get it.

Ron Thorne · December-15th-2008, 10:57 PM

There were two covers created, Gerardo ... the "original" which had a die cut opening surrounding Jim's photo and a later version which didn't. The "original" is more desirable and valuable, obviously. They were both Embryo releases, Herbie Mann's label.

Gerardo A · December-16th-2008, 12:38 PM

Oh I see! Thanks. I'll keep that in mind when I go back to shop and inspect the record. I think it was the die cut version, but it was in a plastic sleeve and I didn't take it out, so can't tell for sure.

RogerFarbey · December-18th-2008, 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gerardo A

I saw in a record store here in town a VG (perhaps even VG+) copy of the "Pepper's Pow Wow" LP for $29 dollars. Do you guys think I should get it, or I should maybe wait to find a better price on eBay or something?

This has thankfully been reissued on CD and I bought a copy a while back. I think it was on the Wounded Bird label but am not 100% certain of that.

BugsySiegel · December-22nd-2008, 01:15 AM

Ron and John-Carlos: What a handsome couple these guys make! I'm thrilled beyond belief to have played a part in getting you two musical Pepper-preservers together. All that remains now is to get myself into the picture! One of these days, it'll be Anchorage (or SF), here I come!

All the best to the both of youse, my bros! May this lead to a musical collaboration of some sort, the likes of which the world has never heard!!

(I can't believe JazzCorner keeps telling me I need add at least one character to this because it's too short -- I've added about 50, and it keeps telling me "1 more"! So here comes the padding: qwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnm) Nope, still says add 1 more!

- Bugsy

http://jimpepperlives.wordpress.com/

I had the pleasure of meeting and spending a couple of hours with urban American Indian jazz artist John-Carlos Perea yesterday, a young man currently working on his doctorate dissertation on Jim Pepper and his music at UC Berkeley.

John-Carlos Perea and me at Kaladi Brothers Café.

http://www.myspace.com/johncarlosperea

There's a common thread here, since John-Carlos and I are both friends with Bill Siegel.[/QUOTE]

BugsySiegel · December-22nd-2008, 01:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RogerFarbey

This has thankfully been reissued on CD and I bought a copy a while back. I think it was on the Wounded Bird label but am not 100% certain of that.

It's a matter of whether you support artistic integrity and the right of the Pepper family to the proceeds of sales of his records.

On this issue, I feel pretty strongly. Check for two things:

1) Is the cover photo a little fuzzy? If so, it's not worth $29. It's not worth half that. Plus, it's a ripoff from the family, who have been suing for the copyrights for years. So even morally and ethically, it's ain't worth much.

2) Is the cover a diecut gatefold, with clear color and printing, and a cut out circle to show Pepper's face from inside, or is it all printed flat on the cover, with no hole in the center? If diecut, it's the old, original version and is probably worth more $29 if it's VG+ condition. Again, if it's not diecut and a gatefold, then it's the recent ripoff re-release and isn't worth the paper the cover is made of. But that's just my opinion -- the music is the same, and worth any price. But wouldn't you rather know you have a decent condition version of the original, than a recent, poorly printed ripoff, that you cold probably find at a lower price on eBay?

Keep checking eBay, but the majority of the ones showing up these these days will admit that they're new, which means exactly that. Most of the original one 37 year old ones will point out that they have a diecut cover -- just don't let yourself get carried away with the bidding -- some of them are in pretty sad shape, regardless of the description, with stickers all over the cover, worn spines, closeout cuts in the corner, etc. and they're trying to get anywhere from $50-100 for them (I've seen higher starting prices). These too are ripoffs, because of the condition and the price. I've picked up a couple really nice ones of the original from eBay at reasonable prices, and a couple of the newer printings. There's no comparison between the two, as far as the cover goes -- and it's the cover that gets framed and hung on my wall!

Hope this helps ... if it's just the music you're after, and don't care about the cover or the fact that the family is getting cheated, then $29 for a VG+ might be fine. But I stronly suggest you wait for the real thing.

For example, here's the description currently on eBay for a copy of the new version for $10.92: "Unique blend of of late-60s jazz-rock and Native American beats & chants. Excellent, new re-issue. Cover is not die-cut like the original. Embryo SD 731. New (graded cover/vinyl or CD)

At least the seller is upfront.

And then there's one "Buy It Now", listed at $49.99 plus almost $7 in shipping with two "Promotional Copy" stickers on the cover -- it looks like the original, but I wonder if the price is a little steep.

I've noticed the price on this album rising ever since the new cheaper version came out. I'll never understand this marketplace. Just be careful what you bid for and how much you get caught up in the bidding fever. Patience is a virtue here ... the album is constantly showing up on eBay, and eventually you'll get a chance at the original, while everyone else pays rock bottom prices for the new ripoff.

As Dennis Miller used to say, before he became a born-again Bush-ite and rabid supporter of the Iraq invasion: "Of course, that's just my opinion. I could be wrong."

- Bugsy.