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Moris Tepper, sometimes credited as Jeff Moris Tepper, is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist and artist.

Tepper first came to prominence in the late 1970s with Captain Beefheart. He has also worked with singers Tom Waits, PJ Harvey, Robyn Hitchcock and Frank Black. He has recorded several solo albums. His album Head Off (2004) includes a lyrical collaboration with the reclusive Beefheart with the song "Ricochet Man".

Tepper met Beefheart (alias Don Van Vliet) by chance while studying as an art student in Northern California in the mid-1970s. Van Vliet had already started to focus on painting and although they shared this in common it was when Van Vliet learned Tepper knew guitar parts to Trout Mask Replica that he became interested in putting together a new band around Tepper's unique guitar sound. This was done later in Los Angeles after Van Vliet and Frank Zappa had reunited briefly for the Bongo Fury tour. The result of the new band led to arguably some of Captain Beefheart's most creative music efforts including albums Shiny Beast (1978), Doc at the Radar Station (1980) and Ice Cream for Crow (1982). Tepper joined The Magic Band in 1976 and stayed in the band until 1982. He is one of the longest serving (without a break) Magic Band members and the only one to receive production credit for Ice Cream for Crow (1982)

Tepper's first released solo work beginning with Big Enough to Disappear (1996) and then Moth to Mouth (2000) came after having been a sideman for many years. His music has been reviewed as "accessibly avant-garde" and although it may be difficult to shed his sideman cult status he remains inspired. Stingray in the Heart (2008) was described as an album that never pauses in a familiar territory.

Tepper is also a painter and he divides his time between music and painting.

Discography

With Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band

Studio albums

• Shiny Beast (1978)
• Doc at the Radar Station (1980)
• Ice Cream for Crow (1982)
• Bat Chain Puller (2012)

Live albums

• I'm Going to Do What I Wanna Do: Live at My Father's Place 1978 (2000)
• Merseytrout: Live in Liverpool 1980 (2000)

Compilations

• A Carrot Is As Close As A Rabbit Gets To A Diamond (1993 compilation)
• Grow Fins: Rarities 1965–1982 (1999)
• The Dust Blows Forward (1999)

With 17 Pygmies

• Captured in Ice (1985)
• Welcome (1988)

With Gary Lucas

• Improve The Shining Hour (2000 compilation)

With Tom Waits

• Franks Wild Years (1987)

With Frank Black

• Teenager of the Year (1994)
• Dog in the Sand (2001)
• Black Letter Days (2002)
• Devil's Workshop (2002)

With Tommy Santee Klaws

• Forcefeeder (2018)
• Honeysuckle (2021)
• A Table Before Me (2024)

Solo albums

• Big Enough to Disappear (1996)
• Sundowner, Eggtooth (1998)
• Moth to Mouth (2000)
• Head Off (2004)
• Stingray in the Heart (2008)
• A Singer Named Shotgun Throat (2010)
• Building A Nest (2024)

Compilations

• Songs in the Key Of Z: The Curious Universe Of Outsider Music (2000)
• Now Hear This! 70 (2008)

References

1. Jeff Moris Tepper discography at Discogs
2. ^ Chuck Crisafulli, "Busted guitars and spectacular sounds", musicplayer.com, July 30, 2001
3. Jim Washburn, L.A. Times Entertainment, May 19, 2000
4. Richard Cromelin, "Dark, sonic spasms – with PJ Harvey's assist", L.A. Times, February 20, 2006
6. Stewart Lee, 'Stingray in the Heart' Review", London Sunday Times, January 4, 2009
7. Tim Perlich, "Tepper wear: Biz-weary guitar ace thrives indie-style", Now Toronto, Music Feature, October 14–20, 2004
8. Elaine Shepard (Producer), Declan Smith (Film research) (1997). The Artist Formerly Known as Captain Beefheart (Documentary). BBC.
9. ^ Moris Tepper Discography Archived September 19, 2010, at the Wayback Machine The Captain Beefheart Radar Station
10. Michael Simmons, "Moth to Mouth", L.A. Weekly, August 18, 2000
11. John Aizlewood, "'Stingray In The Heart' Review", Q Magazine 2008
12. Antero Garcia: ALBUM REVIEW: MORIS TEPPER: Moris Tepper Stingray in the Heart Candlebone L.A. Record, May 29, 2008
13. Polly Higgins, "Storyteller, artist, musician – he does it all", Tucson Citizen, Entertainment, May 19, 2005

External links

• Candlebone.com – Moris Tepper's official site
• Moris Tepper at MySpace
• Jeff Moris Tepper discography at Discogs

• Living people
• American rock songwriters
• American rock singers
• American rock guitarists
• American blues guitarists
• American male guitarists
• American slide guitarists
• The Magic Band members
• 20th-century American painters
• American male painters
• 21st-century American painters
• Guitarists from Los Angeles
• Singer-songwriters from California