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at a glance...
Hometown: Tampa, FL
Born: 1928
Personnel:
Julian "Cannonball" Adderley -alto saxophone
Miles Davis -trumpet
Hank Jones -piano
Sam Jones -bass
Art Blakey -drums
Notes:
By the early 50's Adderley was already well developed as a musician, leading his own groups in dates around the Fort Lauderdale area and working as a high school music instructor. Moving to New York to pursue further education in music, he inadvertently burst onto the scene after sitting in with bassist Oscar Pettiford's group at the Café Bohemia. Coming to public attention just after Charlie Parker's death, he was initially billed as "the new Bird" by publicists and booking agents looking for an angle. Adderley's sound however, though influenced by Parker, tended to be more bluesy and rounded than that of the average Parker disciple. This quality served him well in Miles Davis' band, which he joined from 1957-59, as a compliment to the delicate sound of Davis and the more bracing style of John Coltrane. Both before and after his time with Davis' group, he formed a successful group of his own with his cornet-playing brother Nat and varying rhythm sections (including pianists Bobby Timmons and Joe Zawinul) over the years. The group had many hit successes, including Timmons' "This Here" and Zawinul's funky "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy." The group remained active right up until Cannonball's death from a stroke in 1975.
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Cannonball Adderley
Somethin' Else
Blue Note, Recorded 1958
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In the category of "jazz album deserving wider recognition," Cannonball Adderley's Somethin' Else easily ranks in the top five. This remarkable outing boasts an impressive cast of characters; Miles Davis, in a rare sideman appearance, and the formidable rhythm section of Hank Jones, Sam Jones and Jazz Messenger leader Art Blakey on drums. Though dated, the original liner notes by Leonard Feather do a fine job of lauding the musicians and shedding some light on the material performed with a track-by-track analysis.
As one would expect with such ample support, session leader Adderley swings heavily throughout the six song program. "Autumn Leaves" opens with a churning vamp in G minor. Miles brings in the melody, then relinquishes the first solo to Adderley before returning to take a few choruses. Hank Jones takes one solo before the band takes it out, ending with the G minor vamp and Jones' eloquent embellishments. Hank begins "Love for Sale" with an ad-lib intro before being joined by the bass and drums, followed by Miles' spare reading of the famous melody. The funky blues "One for Daddy-O," written by Cannonball's brother Nat, starts off with a nice call and response between the horns and piano. Adderley takes the first solo, a bluesy-doosey, followed by Davis and Jones, who spins some nice single note lines. Miles can be heard asking of Blue Note producer Alfred Lion,"Is that what you wanted Alfred?" after the tune ends. We can be sure it most definitely was.
The remaining three tracks are equally great. This is another recording that's as rewarding to the serious jazz collector as it is to the dabbler. CCA says pick it up!
If you like Cannonball Adderley, check out:
Cannonball Adderley Cannonball & Coltrane
Miles Davis Miles & Trane
Charlie Parker Jazz at the Philharmonic 1946
Horace Silver Horace Silver and the Jazz Messengers
-- cca
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