Jimmy Knepper
Encyclopedia
James M. Knepper (November 22, 1927 – June 14, 2003) was an American
jazz
trombonist.
He was a good friend and arranging/transcribing partner of bassist and composer Charles Mingus
. Knepper was twice on the receiving end of Mingus' legendary temper. While onstage at a memorial concert in Philadelphia, Mingus reportedly attempted to crush his pianist's hands with the instrument's keyboard cover, then punched Knepper in the mouth. http://www.mp3.com/charles-mingus/artists/6068/biography.html
On October 12, 1962, Mingus reportedly punched Knepper while the two men were working together at Mingus's apartment on a score for his upcoming concert at New York Town Hall and Knepper refused to take on more work. The blow broke one of Knepper's teeth, ruined his embouchure
and resulted in the permanent loss of the top octave of his range on the trombone. This attack ended their working relationship and Knepper was unable to perform at the concert. Charged with assault, Mingus appeared in court in January 1963 and was given a suspended sentence.
Knepper died in 2003, after a long battle with Parkinson's disease
.
& Dannie Richmond
With Kenny Burrell
With Gary Burton
With Gil Evans
With the Jazz Composer's Orchestra
With Al Kooper
With Charles Mingus
With The Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Orchestra
With the Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big Band
With Kai Winding
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
trombonist.
He was a good friend and arranging/transcribing partner of bassist and composer Charles Mingus
Charles Mingus
Charles Mingus Jr. was an American jazz musician, composer, bandleader, and civil rights activist.Mingus's compositions retained the hot and soulful feel of hard bop and drew heavily from black gospel music while sometimes drawing on elements of Third stream, free jazz, and classical music...
. Knepper was twice on the receiving end of Mingus' legendary temper. While onstage at a memorial concert in Philadelphia, Mingus reportedly attempted to crush his pianist's hands with the instrument's keyboard cover, then punched Knepper in the mouth. http://www.mp3.com/charles-mingus/artists/6068/biography.html
On October 12, 1962, Mingus reportedly punched Knepper while the two men were working together at Mingus's apartment on a score for his upcoming concert at New York Town Hall and Knepper refused to take on more work. The blow broke one of Knepper's teeth, ruined his embouchure
Embouchure
The embouchure is the use of facial muscles and the shaping of the lips to the mouthpiece of woodwind instruments or the mouthpiece of the brass instruments.The word is of French origin and is related to the root bouche , 'mouth'....
and resulted in the permanent loss of the top octave of his range on the trombone. This attack ended their working relationship and Knepper was unable to perform at the concert. Charged with assault, Mingus appeared in court in January 1963 and was given a suspended sentence.
Knepper died in 2003, after a long battle with Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system...
.
As leader
- Jazz Workshop Presents: "Jimmy Knepper" - Debut (1957, with Bob HammerBob HammerHoward Robert Hammer is a US-American jazz musician .Hammer studied at the Michigan State University and at Manhattan School of Music before taking private lessons by composer Henry Brant....
- A Swinging Introduction to Jimmy Knepper - Bethlehem (1957)
- Pepper-Knepper Quintet - MetroJazz RecordsMetroJazz Records-Discography:...
(1958) - Cunningbird "Jimmy Knepper Quintet"- SteepleChase (1976)
- Jimmy Knepper in L.A. - Inner City (1977)
- Tell Me... - Daybreak (1979)
- Primrose Path - HEPHep RecordsHep Records is a Scottish record label specializing in both new and reissued jazz music. The label was founded in 1974 by Alastair Robertson in Edinburgh.-Past and present artists:*Don Lanphere*Jessica Williams*Jim Mullen*Tommy Smith*Michael Hashim...
(1980) - First Place - Black Hawk (1982)
- I Dream Too Much - Soul Note (1984)
- Dream Dancing - Criss Cross (1986)
As sideman
With George AdamsGeorge Adams (musician)
George Rufus Adams was an American jazz musician who played tenor saxophone, flute and bass clarinet. He is best known for his work with Charles Mingus, Gil Evans, Roy Haynes and in the quartet he co-led with pianist Don Pullen, featuring bassist Cameron Brown and drummer Dannie Richmond...
& Dannie Richmond
Dannie Richmond
Dannie Richmond was an American drummer who was best known among jazz fans for his work with Charles Mingus, and among pop fans for his work with Joe Cocker, Elton John and Mark-Almond....
- Hand to HandHand to Hand (album)-Track listing:# "The Cloocker" - 9:08# "Yamani's Passion" - 10:55# "For Dee J." - 8:07# "Joobubie" - 11:20*Recorded at Barigozzi Studio in Milano, Italy on February 13 & 14, 1980-Personnel:*George Adams – tenor saxophone, flute...
(Soul Note, 1980) - Gentleman's AgreementGentleman's Agreement (album)-Track listing:# "More Sightings" - 5:10# "Don't Take Your Love from Me" - 4:50# "Symphony for Five" - 11:30# "Prayer for a Jitterbug" - 8:20# "Dream of the Rising Sun" - 6:20# "Rip Off" - 7:36...
(Soul Note, 1983)
With Kenny Burrell
Kenny Burrell
Kenneth Earl "Kenny" Burrell is an American jazz guitarist. His playing is grounded in bebop and blues; he has performed and recorded with a wide range of jazz musicians.-Biography:...
- Guitar FormsGuitar FormsGuitar Forms is a 1964 album by Kenny Burrell, featuring arrangements by Gil Evans. However, the presence of the Evans' orchestra is somewhat misleading, as it appears on only five of the album's nine tracks; the most ambitious of these is the nearly 10-minute "Lotus Land." Three tracks are blues...
(Verve, 1965)
With Gary Burton
Gary Burton
Gary Burton is an American jazz vibraphonist.A true original on the vibraphone, Burton developed a pianistic style of four-mallet technique as an alternative to the usual two-mallets. This approach caused Burton to be heralded as an innovator and his sound and technique are widely imitated...
- A Genuine Tong FuneralA Genuine Tong FuneralA Genuine Tong Funeral is an album by vibraphonist Gary Burton featuring compositions by Carla Bley recorded in 1967 and released on the RCA label.-Reception:...
(RCA, 1967)
With Gil Evans
Gil Evans
Gil Evans was a jazz pianist, arranger, composer and bandleader, active in the United States...
- Out of the CoolOut of the Cool-Reception:The Penguin Guide to Jazz selected this album as part of its suggested "Core Collection" calling it "Evans' masterpiece under his own name and one of the best examples of jazz orchestration since the early Ellington bands".-Track listing:...
(Impulse!, 1960) - The Individualism of Gil EvansThe Individualism of Gil EvansThe Individualism of Gil Evans is an album by pianist, conductor, arranger and composer Gil Evans originally released on the Verve label in 1964. It features Evans' big band arrangements of five original compositions and compositions by Kurt Weill, Bob Dorough, John Lewis and Willie Dixon...
(Verve, 1964) - Where Flamingos FlyWhere Flamingos FlyWhere Flamingos Fly is an album by jazz composer, arranger, conductor and pianist Gil Evans, recorded in 1971, but not released until 1981, and performed by Evans with a orchestra featuring Billy Harper, Howard Johnson, Johnny Coles, and Don Preston....
(Artists House, 1971) - CollaborationCollaboration (Helen Merrill and Gil Evans album)The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album four and a half stars and said "This inspired outing, one of the most rewarding sets of Helen Merrill's later years, was also one of Evans' last great dates and one of his few post-1972 classics...
with Helen MerrillHelen MerrillHelen Merrill is an internationally known jazz vocalist.Merrill's recording career has spanned six decades and she is popular with fans of jazz in Japan and Italy as well as in her native United States...
(EmArcy, 1987)
With the Jazz Composer's Orchestra
Jazz Composer's Orchestra
Jazz Composer's Orchestra was an American jazz group founded in 1965, to further avant-garde jazz in New York. Carla Bley and Michael Mantler were important in its organization and style....
- The Jazz Composer's Orchestra (JCOA, 1968)
- Escalator over the HillEscalator over the HillEscalator over the Hill is mostly referred to as a jazz opera, but it was released as a "chronotransduction" with "words by Paul Haines, adaptation and music by Carla Bley, production and coordination by Michael Mantler", performed by the Jazz Composer's Orchestra.-History:Escalator over the Hill...
with Carla BleyCarla BleyCarla Bley, née Borg, is an American jazz composer, pianist, organist and band leader. An important figure in the Free Jazz movement of the 1960s, she is perhaps best known for her jazz opera Escalator Over The Hill , as well as a book of compositions that have been performed by many other...
(JCOA, 1971)
With Al Kooper
Al Kooper
Al Kooper is an American songwriter, record producer and musician, known for organizing Blood, Sweat & Tears , providing studio support for Bob Dylan when he went electric in 1965, and also bringing together guitarists Mike Bloomfield and Stephen Stills to...
- You Never Know Who Your Friends AreYou Never Know Who Your Friends AreYou Never Know Who Your Friends Are was the second album by New York City-based singer-songwriter Al Kooper, issued in 1969 on Columbia Records....
(Columbia, 1969)
With Charles Mingus
Charles Mingus
Charles Mingus Jr. was an American jazz musician, composer, bandleader, and civil rights activist.Mingus's compositions retained the hot and soulful feel of hard bop and drew heavily from black gospel music while sometimes drawing on elements of Third stream, free jazz, and classical music...
- Tijuana MoodsTijuana MoodsTijuana Moods is a 1962 album by Charles Mingus that was originally recorded in 1957. It was reissued in 1996 on CD as New Tijuana Moods with four alternate takes....
(RCA, 1957) - East CoastingEast CoastingEast Coasting is an album by Charles Mingus, recorded and released in 1957. It was reissued on CD with bonus takes in 1993.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 4 stars stating "One of Charles Mingus's lesser-known band sessions, this set of five of his originals features...
(Bethlehem, 1957) - A Modern Jazz Symposium of Music and PoetryA Modern Jazz Symposium of Music and PoetryA Modern Jazz Symposium of Music and Poetry is an album by jazz bassist Charles Mingus. In spite of the title, the album does not contain any poetry. "Scenes in the City", however, includes narration performed by Melvin Stewart and written by actor Lonne Elder with assistance from Langston Hughes...
(Bethlehem 1957) - The ClownThe Clown (album)The Clown is an album by Charles Mingus recorded and released in 1957 on Atlantic Records as SD-1260. It is the follow-up to 1956's Pithecanthropus Erectus and features the improvised narration of Jean Shepherd. A deluxe edition of The Clown was issued in 2000 on Rhino featuring two bonus tracks...
(Atlantic, 1957) - Mingus Ah UmMingus Ah UmMingus Ah Um is a jazz album by Charles Mingus, recorded and released on Columbia Records in 1959. It was his first album recorded for Columbia. The cover features a painting by S...
(Columbia, 1959) - Blues & RootsBlues & RootsBlues & Roots is an album by Charles Mingus, recorded in 1959 and released in 1960. It has been reissued twice as a CD, first by Atlantic Records, and then again by Rhino Entertainment in 1998....
(Atlantic, 1959) - Mingus RevisitedMingus RevisitedMingus Revisited, originally released as Pre-Bird is an album by jazz bassist and composer Charles Mingus; it was recorded and released in 1960.-Track listing:#"Take the "A" Train" – 3:40#"Prayer For Passive Resistance" – 3:57...
(Mercury, 1960) - Reincarnation of a LovebirdReincarnation of a LovebirdReincarnation of a Lovebird is an album by jazz bassist and composer Charles Mingus; it was recorded and released in 1960.-Track listing:#"Reincarnation of a Lovebird No 2" – 6:58#"Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams" – 3:51#"R & R" – 11:51...
(Candid, 1960) - Oh YeahOh Yeah (album)Oh Yeah is a 1962 album by jazz musician Charles Mingus. It was recorded in 1961, and features the leader singing on three of the cuts and playing piano throughout.-Track listing:...
(Atlantic, 1961) - Tonight at NoonTonight at Noon (album)Tonight at Noon is an album by jazz bassist and composer Charles Mingus compiling tracks recorded at two sessions, one in 1957 from the sessions that produced The Clown and the other in 1961 which produced the album Oh Yeah, that was released on the Atlantic label in 1965...
(Atlantic, 1957–61) - Cumbia & Jazz FusionCumbia & Jazz FusionCumbia & Jazz Fusion is an album by Charles Mingus recorded for the Atlantic label in 1977. It features two extended compositions written for the film Todo Modo by Mingus and performed by large ensembles featuring Jack Walrath, Jimmy Knepper, Paul Jeffrey, Ricky Ford, Dannie Richmond, Candido, Ray...
(Atlantic, 1978)
With The Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Orchestra
- The Big Band Sound of Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Featuring Miss Ruth BrownThe Big Band Sound of Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Featuring Miss Ruth BrownThe Big Band Sound of Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Featuring Miss Ruth Brown, also released as Fine Brown Frame, is a 1968 Solid State Records recording of vocalist Ruth Brown with the Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra.-Track listing:...
(Solid State, 1968) - Monday NightMonday NightMonday Night, Recorded Live at the Village Vanguard is a 1968 big band jazz album recorded at the Village Vanguard club in New York City by the Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra and released on the Solid State Records label...
(Solid State, 1968) - Central Park North (Solid State, 1969)
- Basle, 1969Basle, 1969Basle, 1969 is a big band jazz album recorded by the Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra in Basle , Switzerland for a Swiss radio broadcast...
(TCB Music, 1969 - released 1996) - ConsumationConsummation (album)Consummation has been considered one of the best albums by the Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra. It was released in 1970 on Blue Note Records and re-released in 2002. It was recorded at A&R Studios in New York City. The album was nominated for a 1970 Grammy award in the "Best Jazz...
(Solid State, 1970) - Suite for PopsSuite for PopsSuite for Pops is a 1972 big band jazz album recorded by the Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra and released on the A&M Horizon label.-Track listing:# "Meetin' Place"# "The Summary"# "The Farewell"# "Toledo By Candlelight"# "The Great One"...
(A&M, 1972) - Live in Tokyo (Denon Jazz, 1974)
- Potpourri (Philadelphia International, 1974)
- Thad Jones / Mel Lewis and Manuel De SicaThad Jones / Mel Lewis and Manuel De SicaThad Jones / Mel Lewis and Manuel De Sica and the Jazz Orchestra is a big band jazz recording by the Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra recorded in Europe in 1973 and 1974.-Track listing:# "First Jazz Suite" ## "Brasserie" – 3:19...
(PAUSA, 1974)
With the Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big Band
Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big Band
The Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big Band was a 16 piece jazz big band created by pianist Toshiko Akiyoshi and tenor saxophone / flutist Lew Tabackin in Los Angeles in 1973. In 1982 the principals moved from Los Angeles to New York city and re-formed the group with new members under the name,...
- Road Time (Victor, 1976)
With Kai Winding
Kai Winding
Kai Chresten Winding was a popular Danish-born American trombonist and jazz composer. He is well known for a successful collaboration with fellow trombonist J. J. Johnson.-Biography:...
- The Incredible Kai Winding TrombonesThe Incredible Kai Winding TrombonesThe Incredible Kai Winding Trombones is an album by American jazz trombonist Kai Winding featuring performances recorded in 1960 for the Impulse! label.-Reception:...
(Impulse!, 1960)
External links
- [ Jimmy Knepper at Allmusic.com]
- Jimmy Knepper at Trombone Page of the World