Biography
Jim Pepper's legacy centers on his widely known version of "Witchi-Tai-To," where he set a peyote chant to music. An hour-long documentary titled Pepper's Pow Wow, which can be found on video, offers a thorough look at his life and work. Blending sophisticated jazz elements with sounds drawn from his Native American roots defined much of his approach. His father, a saxophonist himself, passed along an early interest that led the young Pepper to enjoy tap dancing. Self-taught on tenor saxophone and clarinet for the most part, he cultivated a deeply soulful tone while remaining receptive to free improvisation and global musical traditions. Oklahoma was his childhood home before he relocated to New York during the middle of the 1960s. As a key member of Free Spirits, among the pioneering fusion ensembles, he contributed to their 1967 album on the ABC/Paramount label. During the late 1960s, Pepper performed with the band "Everything Is Everything," and Ornette Coleman along with Don Cherry urged him to incorporate greater elements of his background into his compositions. Collaborations followed with Cherry, Dewey Redman, the Liberation Music Orchestra led by Charlie Haden, and various groups under his own direction. He also appeared on recordings alongside Paul Motian and Bob Moses. Europa released one of his sessions in 1984, with another coming out on Enja three years later. Lymphoma claimed his life when he reached the age of 50.
Albums
