Pepper Adams Quintet (1957)

Accompanied by a stellar West Coast ensemble of trumpeter Stu Williamson, pianist Carl Perkins, the incredibly prolific bassist Leroy Vinnegar and drummer Mel Lewis, it’s not surprising that Adams’ first album as a leader sounds so vitally contemporary, given the superb command of the artists and the timelessness of the art form. What is surprising though, is that a debut album displays a leader who is so fully in command of his musical vision and the control and maturity to bring that vision into fruition by his leadership and confidence.