Pepper's Pow Wow

Native American jazz saxophone pioneer Jim Pepper was the first musician to fuse Native American music with jazz.

Series
PBS Plus Presentation
Premiere Date
November 1, 1997
Length
60 minutes
Funding Initiative
Open Call
  • Award laurels-r Created with Sketch.
    1995 American Indian Film Festival-Best Documentary Feature
  • Award laurels-r Created with Sketch.
    1996 Red Earth Film & Video Competition-Best Direction by an American Indian
  • Award laurels-r Created with Sketch.
    1996 Indian Produced Art/Artist Profile, Red Earth Film & Video Competiton-First Place
    • Producer

    Sandy Sunrising Osawa

    Other ITVS Films
    Maria Tallchief

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    The Film

    A captivating look at the life of Native American jazz saxophone pioneer Jim Pepper, the first musician to fuse Native American music with jazz. The documentary soars with diverse musical highlights, including Pepper's grandfather's recording of the peyote chant "Witchi Tai To," which Pepper developed into a crossover hit on both the jazz and Top 40 charts. Pepper's life and music harmonized two distinct cultures, and serve as a poetic example for all indigenous people, "walking in two worlds with one spirit."

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