Jimmy Knepper

KNEPPER, Jimmy (b 22 Nov. '27, LA) Trombone; also bass trombone, baritone horn; arranger, composer. Began on alto horn at five, trombone at nine; worked with many white big bands late '40s--early '50s, also combos with Charlie Parker etc; joined Charles Mingus Jazz Workshop '57; worked with Tony Scott, Stan Kenton; rejoined Mingus '59; toured Africa with Herbie Mann '60, USSR with Benny Goodman '62; played in Funny Girl Broadway pit band '64--6, others; with Thad Jones/Mel Lewis band on world tours; Lee Konitz Nonet '75, etc. He played on most of Mingus's records '57--62 on half a dozen labels (e.g. Tijuana Moods '57 on RCA) (Mingus severed the relationship by punching Knepper in the mouth; see entry for Mingus). Knepper was established as one of the best on his instrument: at home with the blues, always swinging, always musical. Recorded with Pepper Adams '58: Pepper/Knepper Quintet on Metrojazz with Elvin Jones, Doug Watkins, Wynton Kelly; also with Gil Evans, others; own LPs incl. quintet LPs '57 with Mingus on his Debut label and on Bethlehem, both with Dannie Richmond; next record under his own name was nearly 20 years later, again a quintet with Richmond: Cunningbird '76 on Steeplechase. Jimmy Knepper In L.A. '77 on Inner City was a quintet, as were Just Friends '78 and Primrose Path '80 on Hep (combined on CD Special Relationship, with reedmen Joe Temperley and Bobby Wellins). Sextet LP Tell Me '79 made in Holland on Daybreak; I Dream Too Much '84 is on Soul Note.