Jim Pepper

Born: Salem, Oregon                                       

Gender or Pronouns: Male

Tribe(s): Kaw/Muscogee Creek

Instrument(s): Tenor sax, soprano sax, flute, vocals, percussion

Role(s): Not available

Years active: 1962-1992       

Credited with: Pepper’s New York City-based band The Free Spirits (1965-67) is credited with being the first jazz-rock fusion band in music history. Pepper also created an original fusion of traditional powwow, Native church and experimental jazz which also took in rock and blues styles.

Honors & Awards: Not available

Associated with: The Free Spirits, Jim Pepper’s Powwow (Band), Don Cherry, Charlie Haden Liberation Music Orchestra, Larry Coryell,  Joe Lovano, Paul Motian, Ra Kalam Bob Moses, Pete DePoe, Ornette Coleman, Yellowhammer (Ponca), Pura Fe, Ulali, Mal Waldron, Gordon Lee, many others

Discography: Not available

Genre(s):  Not available

Biography

“Saxophonist Jim Pepper, a Creek and Kaw Indian, was an innovative jazz musician who made his mark in the United States and in Europe.” – American Indian Community House, New York City

“His unique style fused Native American church music and powwow music with experimental jazz.” – American Indian Community House, New York City

“Pepper is remembered for his contributions to the jazz scene and the Native music scene, and for expanding the perceptions and expectations for both genres.” – American Indian Community House, New York City

“I like Jim Pepper’s sound and the way he plays. He offsets Joe Lovano, who is more traditional, sort of coming from Coltrane. Pepper is kind of post-Coltrane.” – Paul Motian

“Pepper was a Flying Eagle. He also played with a certain Eagle Tone, I called it. A very upper-register atmospheric saxophone. – Joe Lovano

“Jim Pepper’s music had a real vibration to it. His Native American roots and his personal journey through life came out in his horn.” – Joe Lovano

“The thing about Pepper that touched you was his clarity and his dynamic sound that came from his soul.” – Joe Lovano

“Jim Pepper’s music represents something that this museum has stood for from the very beginning. That is the wonderful connectedness between past and present, the gift of being able to move into media and forms of media that is not necessarily ours and making them ours in various powerful and important ways.” – Rick West, Executive Director, National Museum of the American Indian

“Jim opened up a lot of doors to take people to places that they had never been before, and we all have to work to keep his legacy alive and open more doors for young people, to inspire them to live their lives creatively and make a contribution to the world while we are here the way Jim did.” – David Amram

“Aside from his remarkable musicianship, Pepper stands out for having brought Native American musical ideas into jazz itself,” – Michael Palin, “Jazz and Native American melodies”, Smithsonian Music

“Jim Pepper was one of the greatest Indigenous musicians of all time.” – Winona LaDuke

Performances

Tribal Information

“The Kaw Nation derived its name from the Siouan aca, ‘south wind,’ a reference to the tribe’s role in war ceremonials, using the power of the wind when recognizing warriors. Among the many variations of the name given by French traders and other Europeans were ‘Kanza’ or ‘Kansa.’ By the mid-18th century, the ‘Wind People’ were the predominant tribe in what became the state to which they gave their name (Kansas). Their territory extended over most of present-day northern and eastern Kansas, with hunting grounds extending far to the west.” (Source: tribal website)

Kansas Reflector – Kaw Nation reclaims prayer rock exhibited for nearly 100 years in honor of white settlers
Twenty-four ton quartzite boulder headed to memorial park in Council Grove.

Muscogee (Creek) Nation

Article 6 of the U.S. Constitution (the Supremacy Clause)

“This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.”

References

• Jim Pepper’s Powwow World Premiere
• Up Where We Belong: Native Musicians in Popular Culture, National Museum of the American Indian
• Wikipedia