Jim Pepper - Witchi Tia To

Jim Pepper was an American jazz saxophonist, composer, and singer of Native American ancestry.

Beginning in the late 1960s, Pepper became a pioneer of fusion jazz, his band The Free Spirits (active between 1965 and 1968, with guitarist Larry Coryell) being credited as the first to combine elements of jazz and rock. His primary instrument was the tenor saxophone (he also played flute and soprano saxophone), and his characteristic incisive, penetrating tone and soulful delivery was unique for its time. A similar timbre was taken up by later players such as Jan Garbarek, Michael Brecker, and David Sanborn.

Of Kaw and Creek heritage, Pepper also achieved notoriety for his compositions combining elements of jazz and Native American music. Don Cherry and Ornette Coleman encouraged Pepper to reflect his roots and heritage and incorporate it into his jazz playing and composition. His "Witchi Tai To" (derived from a peyote healing chant of the Native American Church which he had learned from his grandfather) is the most famous example of this hybrid style; the song has been covered by many other artists including Harper's Bizarre, Ralph Towner (with and without Oregon), Jan Garbarek, and Brewer & Shipley. Pepper supported the American Indian Movement. He served as musical director for Night of the First Americans, a Native American self-awareness benefit concert at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. in 1980 and played also on pow-wows.

Pepper was a member of the short-lived band Everything Is Everything with Chris Hills, Lee Reinoehl, Chip Baker, John Waller and Jim Zitro. Their sole album spawned the near-hit single "Witchi Tai To" (which got lots of airplay). It was issued on Vanguard Apostolic and UK Vanguard in England.

In his own projects, he recorded with Cherry, Naná Vasconcelos, Collin Walcott, Kenny Werner, John Scofield, Ed Schuller, Hamid Drake, and others. His CD Comin' and Goin' (1983) is the definitive statement of Pepper's unique "American Indian jazz" with nine songs played by four different line-ups. He worked also with the Liberation Music Orchestra, Paul Motian' s quintet, Bob Moses, Marty Cook, Mal Waldron, David Friesen, and Amina Claudine Myers, and toured Europe intensively.

Pepper died in 1992, of lymphoma.

(copied from wikipedia)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Jim
• Pepper
• Witchi
• Tia
• To
• Jazz
• Native
• American
• The
• Free
• Spirits

[superpheonixfire]

At 5:22, I was pretty convinced he was gonna say "oh shit!"

[888Sebi888]

@superpheonixfire hahaha i just listened to this part and i had to laugh so hard XD thanks for pointing that out :)

[hit004541]

Does somebody have the lyrics???

[888Sebi888]

I just find this here. but I couldnt find the begining :D

Witchi-Tie-To, Gimee Rah

whoa Rah Neeko, Whoa Rah Neeko

hey Ney, Hey Ney, No Way

witchi-Tie-To, Gimee Rah

whoa Rah Neeko, Whoa Rah Neeko

hey Ney, Hey Ney, No Way

[888Sebi888]

water Spirit Feelin'

springin' Round My Head

makes Me Feel Glad

that I'm Not Dead

witchi-Tie-Tie, Gimee Rah

whoa Rah Neeko, Whoa Rah Neeko

hey Ney, Hey Ney, No Way

witchi-Tie-Tie, Gimee Rah

whoa Rah Neeko, Whoa Rah Neeko

hey Ney, Hey Ney, No Way

[dirtysallysnowball]

Thanks for posting. I love this song.

Does anyone know what Witchi Tai To means?

Thank You.

[888Sebi888]

hmm, firstly it's a "holy" song from the Kaw-indians. It was sang in meetings, when the water was handed around to the others.

So the meaning could be:

"Water spirit feelin spinnin round my head

Makes me feel glad that Im not dead"

I hope I could help you =)

[45tam]

All time favorite, I had the 45 first then found an album & have been singing this song throughout my life, sometimes smiling as big as I could & sometimes crying my eyes out...but always thankful for having this song in my life!

[npspec34]

4:04- 4:06 "Zappa"

And hopefully the Zappa Family Trust Nut Bags won't find any copyright infringements on the simple joy of expression and maybe go find a job .

We always have hope.

[lucianoibanez]

I learned this song and I sing in the sweat lodge. People like to much.

[cp30teeroos]

The beginning is a Peyote song that is chanted as the sacrament is taken:

'Peyote ohwenda yah nah wandaho ---

Eeyah nah ney'

[MrWtfrofl]

Fucking stupid

[pdxpaul1]

wonderfull song,by the great jim pepper

[cohojg58]

I'd like to know who the douchebag was that hit dislike. Idiot.

[DarksideOFcollages]

my favorite version Mr Jan garbarek did it. and it was the first time I heard. I only love Oregon version, A classic!

[crushable1]

First heard back in the 70's. It has never failed to raise my "spirits". I just love this.

[chessgai]

This is a beautiful recording. Thanks for posting it.

[LiquidGold2]

Superb!