Friday, April 3, 2026
Saturday, March 28, 2026
James Clay-David Fathead Newman • The Sound Of The Wide Open Spaces
Review
by Scott Yanow
James Clay's debut album as a leader (and one of only two that he cut before moving back to Dallas for nearly 30 years) matches him with fellow Texas tenor David "Fathead" Newman, pianist Wynton Kelly, bassist Sam Jones and drummer Art Taylor. Cannonball Adderley supervised the session, putting the spotlight on the competitive horns who really battle it out on the Babs Gonzales blues "Wide Open Spaces." Clay, who plays flute on the date's lone standard "What's New," holds his own with Newman and plenty of sparks fly. This Riverside album was reissued in the Original Jazz Classics series as an LP in the 1980s.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-sound-of-the-wide-open-spaces-mw0000219406
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Reseña
por Scott Yanow
El álbum debut de James Clay como líder (y uno de los dos únicos que grabó antes de volver a Dallas durante casi 30 años) le empareja con su compatriota tenor tejano David "Fathead" Newman, el pianista Wynton Kelly, el bajista Sam Jones y el batería Art Taylor. Cannonball Adderley supervisó la sesión, poniendo el foco en las competitivas trompas que realmente luchan en el blues de Babs Gonzales "Wide Open Spaces". Clay, que toca la flauta en el único estándar de la sesión, "What's New", se las arregla con Newman y saltan chispas. Este álbum de Riverside se reeditó en la serie Original Jazz Classics como LP en la década de 1980.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-sound-of-the-wide-open-spaces-mw0000219406
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
The Cannonball Adderley Sextext • BBC Studios 1964
Tracks:
The Cannonball Adderley Sextet live at BBC Studios in London, UK on 5.14.1964. This recording features Nat Adderley on cornet. Recorded by the British Broadcasting Corp. (BBC), and broadcast on BBC TV on June 2nd & August 3rd, 1964, and on BBC Radio on September 25, 1964.
Julian "Cannonball" Adderley was an American jazz alto saxophonist of the hard bop era of the 1950s and 1960s. Adderley is perhaps best remembered for the 1966 soul jazz single "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy", which was written for him by his keyboardist Joe Zawinul and became a major crossover hit on the pop and R&B charts. A cover version by the Buckinghams, who added lyrics, also reached No. 5 on the charts. Adderley worked with Miles Davis, first as a member of the Davis sextet, appearing on the seminal records Milestones (1958) and Kind of Blue (1959), and then on his own 1958 album Somethin' Else. He was the elder brother of jazz trumpeter Nat Adderley, who was a longtime member of his band.
In July 1975, Cannonball Adderley suffered a stroke from a cerebral hemorrhage and died four weeks later, on August 8, 1975, at St. Mary Methodist Hospital in Gary, Indiana, at age 46. He was survived by his wife Olga Adderley, parents Julian Carlyle and Jessie Lee Adderley, and brother Nat Adderley. Later in 1975, he was inducted into the DownBeat Jazz Hall of Fame. Joe Zawinul's composition "Cannon Ball" on Weather Report's Black Market album is a tribute to his former leader. Pepper Adams and George Mraz dedicated the composition "Julian" on the 1975 Pepper Adams album of the same name days after Cannonball's death. (Wikipedia)
Tracks::
Work Song 00:57
The Song My Lady Sings 08:11
Poor Butterfly 16:06
The Jive Samba 20:50
Unit Seven 28:09
The Weaver 30:10
Bohemia After Dark 38:29
Come Sunday 44:11
Sweet Georgia Bright 50:39
Unit Seven 55:43
Credits:
Cannonball Adderley - Alto Sax
Nat Adderley - Cornet
Charles Lloyd - Tenor Sax, Flute
Joe Zawinul - Piano
Sam Jones - Bass
Louis Hayes - Drums
This is currently the oldest broadcast on FM Radio Archive. Very few FM broadcast recordings from 1965 or earlier are available, but TV broadcasts of jazz artists from this period are more plentiful, especially from Europe. Watch for more mid-60's jazz broadcasts on FM Radio Archive.
Note: Rip on 2 tracks.
Wednesday, January 7, 2026
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
Cannonball Adderley • Pyramid
Review by Scott Yanow
Cannonball Adderley is in generally good form on this 1974 recording. His Quintet at the time featured cornetist Nat Adderley, keyboardist Hal Galper, bassist Walter Booker and drummer Roy McCurdy. Guests on some selections include guitarist Phil Upchurch, keyboardist George Duke and (on "Bess, Oh Where's My Bess") veteran pianist Jimmy Jones. The emphasis is on recent group originals including the three part "Suite Cannon," two Galper compositions and Cannonball's "Pyramid." Nothing too earthshattering occurs but this is an improvement over many of Adderley's Capitol recordings.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/pyramid-mw0000031982
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Reseña de Scott Yanow
Cannonball Adderley se encuentra en buena forma en esta grabación de 1974. Su quinteto en ese momento estaba formado por el cornista Nat Adderley, el teclista Hal Galper, el bajista Walter Booker y el baterista Roy McCurdy. Entre los invitados que participan en algunas selecciones se encuentran el guitarrista Phil Upchurch, el teclista George Duke y (en «Bess, Oh Where's My Bess») el veterano pianista Jimmy Jones. Se hace hincapié en los temas originales recientes del grupo, entre los que se incluyen la «Suite Cannon» en tres partes, dos composiciones de Galper y «Pyramid» de Cannonball. No ocurre nada demasiado trascendental, pero supone una mejora con respecto a muchas de las grabaciones de Adderley para Capitol.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/pyramid-mw0000031982
Tuesday, October 21, 2025
Saturday, October 18, 2025
Tuesday, October 14, 2025
Monday, September 1, 2025
The Cannonball Adderley Sextet • In New York
Reseña de Richard S. Ginell
Esta excelente actuación en directo desde el Village Vanguard supuso el debut discográfico del sexteto de Adderley, con Cannonball tocando el saxo alto con elocuencia y swing, su hermano Nat liderando la corneta y el versátil Yusef Lateef (que se había unido a la banda solo tres semanas antes) añadiendo un toque especial con el saxo tenor, la flauta y, algo inusual para un instrumentista de viento de jazz, el oboe en la extraña y «Syn-Anthesia», con un aire fúnebre. Además, esta fue la primera aparición discográfica del pianista Joe Zawinul —poco más de tres años después de su llegada a Estados Unidos— en la banda de Cannonball. Este grupo sería el trampolín de Zawinul hacia la fama en el mundo del jazz, y es evidente cómo su dominio compulsivamente funky del bop y el blues se fusionó estrechamente con la sección rítmica de Sam Jones y Louis Hayes. Se incluye una de las primeras grabaciones de una composición de Zawinul, «Scotch and Water», un blues alegre y swing.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/in-new-york-mw0000649372
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Review by Richard S. Ginell
This excellent live date from the Village Vanguard was the recording debut of the Adderley sextet, with Cannonball waxing eloquently and swingingly on alto, brother Nat charging ahead on cornet, and the versatile Yusef Lateef (who had joined the band only three weeks earlier) adding a bit of an edge on tenor, flute, and unusually for a jazz wind player, oboe on the odd, dirge-like "Syn-Anthesia." Also, this was the first recorded appearance of pianist Joe Zawinul -- a little over three years since his arrival in America -- in Cannonball's band. This group would be Zawinul's springboard to prominence in the jazz world, and readily apparent is how his compulsively funky mastery of bop and the blues had fused tightly with the Sam Jones/Louis Hayes rhythm section. Included is one of the earliest recordings of a Zawinul composition, "Scotch and Water," a happy, swinging blues.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/in-new-york-mw0000649372
Tuesday, August 26, 2025
Thursday, August 21, 2025
VA • The Best Blue Note Album In The World Ever
The perfect introduction to jazz by the genre's most legendary record label! This album is a great introduction to the Blue Note label and their incredible library of music, in fact there are probably enough great Blue Note tunes for another equally good compilation - New jazz converts will appreciate being able to use this as an introduction to the various artists.
With 20 classic tracks included on the two discs there is plenty of music to keep your fingers tapping - The songs are thoughtfully chosen and ordered so that it feels less like a compilation album and more like a mix - This means that even more seasoned jazz listeners will appreciate being able to slip in a couple of discs and get a couple of hours of great music without having to try and create their own mix
Tuesday, June 24, 2025
Ray Brown & Milt Jackson • Much In Common
Though not partners as had been planned in the initial Modern Jazz Quartet, Ray Brown and Milt Jackson did work together in the early to mid-'60s, this double-CD set includes some fine collaborations and interesting combinations. There are 12 big-band cuts from 1962 led by Brown, primarily featuring Cannonball Adderley with Jackson on the side. From 1965 another eight tracks concentrate on small group efforts with Brown, Jackson, pianist Hank Jones, and different horn soloists, while the final 14 selections from 1964, still as small ensembles with set lineups of guitarist Kenny Burrell, drummer Al Heath, keyboardists Jones, or Wild Bill Davis, also highlight the singing of the gospel vocalist Marion Williams. This can easily be considered a valuable reissue, showcasing two jazz giants in the prime of their careers, playing music not readily identifiable aside from their work with Oscar Peterson (Brown) or MJQ (Jackson) around this time.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/much-in-common-mw0000080450
Aunque no fueron socios como se había planeado en el Cuarteto inicial de Jazz Moderno, Ray Brown y Milt Jackson trabajaron juntos a principios y mediados de los 60, este set de doble CD incluye algunas colaboraciones excelentes y combinaciones interesantes. Hay 12 cortes de big band de 1962 liderados por Brown, principalmente con Cannonball Adderley con Jackson a un lado. A partir de 1965, otras ocho pistas se concentran en esfuerzos de grupos pequeños con Brown, Jackson, el pianista Hank Jones y diferentes solistas de trompa, mientras que las 14 selecciones finales de 1964, aún como conjuntos pequeños con alineaciones establecidas del guitarrista Kenny Burrell, el baterista Al Heath, los tecladistas Jones o Wild Bill Davis, también destacan el canto de la vocalista de gospel Marion Williams. Esto puede considerarse fácilmente una reedición valiosa, que muestra a dos gigantes del jazz en el mejor momento de sus carreras, tocando música que no es fácilmente identificable aparte de su trabajo con Oscar Peterson (Brown) o MJQ (Jackson) en esta época.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/much-in-common-mw0000080450
Thursday, June 5, 2025
Cannonball Adderley • Lugano, 1963
Looking for hidden treasures? The Swiss banks vaults conceal some mighty ones, but, alas, they are unavailable for most of us. Whereas hidden treasures in Swiss radio vaults are becoming available. Like this groovy tape found at the Italian speaking Swiss radio in Lugano: Cannonball's sextet from the early sixties (1963). A funky and churchy and soulful tape, too. Dig six very swinging cats cookin' it up and around and about. Let's forget all the jazz jive from way back and concentrate on the music. Live jazz on record is the best substitute for live music.
The tunes: "Trouble In Mind" is a classic from the 20's, the others have become classics by 1995. Three very classy bop themes, like Oscar Pettiford's "Bohemia After Dark", Quincy Jones' "Jessica's Day" or Ernie Wilkins' "Dizzy's Business" (remember Dizzy Gillespie's big band versions of these two from the middle fifties? "Jessica" is taken here at a much faster tempo), all up tempo numbers meant to enliven any proceedings. Two compositions taken at less crazy tempos: a hard bop one, Sam Jones' "Unit 7" and Richard M. Jones' poignant old blues theme "Trouble In Mind" a show case for Yusef Lateef's oboe and the rhythm section. Oboes, by the way, are still (1995) not much heard in jazz circles, yet Lateef demonstrates here beyond doubt (1963) not only they should be warmly welcomed, but that they wail I Rhythm sections like Joe Zawinul on piano (plain old piano, no electronics), Sam Jones on bass and Louis Hayes on drums, are also hard to find, anytime. But there's still more pleasure to be had from this concert: two Nat Adderley down-home tunes, "Work Song" and "Jive Samba" (the bass line in this one shows a trait common to Brazilian and Afro-North-American music - the basic baijo figure which sounds almost exactly like a widely used rhythmic figure in blues and rhythm & blues). Both compositions have become classics too: Nat Adderley is may be not as consistent a composer as Horace Silver but you can bet Mr. Silver would willingly sign those two. Funky, bluesy, churchy, swinging, wailing, driving music...
Julian Adderley and the music in this record somehow embody all those virtues - and a lot more. From today's point of view, you feel like comparing Cannonball to Wynton Marsalis. No, no polemics. You can instantly tell what separates them: as far as I know, Cannonball only preached through his horn. But there are several common features. Cannonball carries in his approach the entire jazz tradition as much as Marsalis does-or pretends to, if you don't 'believe' in Marsalis. It has been said that Cannonball, his great originality notwithstanding, could at times sound like any number of saxophone players from every jazz era. At the same time, he proved he could play any kind of music: advanced music with Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Bill Evans, Latin jazz with the best Latin musicians, bossa nova with the cream of the Brazilians; and Third Stream Music, too. Besides, he came into prominence during the hard bop days from the late 50's and 60's, when jazz was going through yet another revival period, one that is not regarded as such because it generated a lot of powerful music.
Much of it sounded newer than it actually was: marrying simplified bebop and folk and pop black tradition was a strong mixture, almost as strong as the one that, in its day, resulted in what we call jazz. But not quite; it did not turn out able to do what it was aiming for: reconcile the masses - and particularly the black public - with jazz. To this day, jazz is still trying to recover from the loss of its mass audience back in the late forties. The Adderley brothers' success during the sixties is in itself a remarkable achievement and a reminder that you can attain popularity within the jazz ambit (whatever that may mean).
The happenings in this Lugano concert are outstanding: Cannonball's alto sax, itself an invitation to jazz wonderland and Nat Adderley's cornet, with its persistent warmth and ebullience. Yusef Lateef's tenorsax, flute and oboe: he's one of those musicians who have captured the sound of jazz, a considerable achievement - furthermore, no matter how you look at Lateef's work, you have the feeling that he has never been awarded the recognition he deserves. Joe Zawinul's piano of the time sounds like a cross section of many bop and hard bop pianists and, at one and the same time, he's so convincing, solid and always willing that you can't escape the feeling there must be a lot of Zawinuls that never got a chance to develop! Sam Jones' bass swings so hard you could certainly listen to him just keep time and be happy. Last but not least, Louis Hayes' drumming is meant to keep everybody busy at giving the best of themselves. This is a recording you'll enjoy time and again. Both because it's live and so very much alive.
Norberto Gimelfarb, University of Lausanne, University of Geneva
https://cannonball-adderley.com/1345.htm
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¿Busca tesoros ocultos? Las cámaras acorazadas de los bancos suizos esconden algunos poderosos, pero, por desgracia, no están disponibles para la mayoría de nosotros. En cambio, los tesoros ocultos en las bóvedas de las radios suizas sí están disponibles. Como esta cinta de música que se encuentra en la radio suiza de habla italiana de Lugano: El sexteto de Cannonball de principios de los años sesenta (1963). Una cinta funky, eclesiástica y conmovedora. Cava a seis gatos muy swingeros cocinando por ahí y por allá. Olvidemos toda la cháchara jazzística de hace tiempo y concentrémonos en la música. El jazz en vivo en un disco es el mejor sustituto de la música en vivo.
Las melodías: "Trouble In Mind" es un clásico de los años 20, los demás se han convertido en clásicos en 1995. Tres temas de bop con mucha clase, como "Bohemia After Dark" de Oscar Pettiford, "Jessica's Day" de Quincy Jones o "Dizzy's Business" de Ernie Wilkins (¿recuerdan las versiones para big band de Dizzy Gillespie de estos dos temas de mediados de los cincuenta? "Jessica" está tomada aquí a un tempo mucho más rápido), todos ellos números de tempo alto destinados a animar cualquier procedimiento. Dos composiciones tomadas a tempos menos locos: una de hard bop, "Unit 7" de Sam Jones, y el conmovedor tema de blues antiguo de Richard M. Jones "Trouble In Mind", una muestra para el oboe de Yusef Lateef y la sección rítmica. Los oboes, por cierto, todavía (1995) no se escuchan mucho en los círculos del jazz, y sin embargo Lateef demuestra aquí (1963) sin lugar a dudas no sólo que deben ser bien recibidos, sino que ululan I Secciones rítmicas como la de Joe Zawinul al piano (piano antiguo, sin electrónica), Sam Jones al bajo y Louis Hayes a la batería, también son difíciles de encontrar, en cualquier momento. Pero aún hay más placer en este concierto: dos temas de Nat Adderley con sabor a hogar, "Work Song" y "Jive Samba" (la línea de bajo en esta muestra un rasgo común a la música brasileña y afro-norteamericana: la figura básica del baijo que suena casi exactamente como una figura rítmica muy utilizada en el blues y el rhythm & blues). Ambas composiciones se han convertido también en clásicos: Puede que Nat Adderley no sea un compositor tan consistente como Horace Silver, pero puede apostar que el Sr. Silver firmaría de buena gana estas dos. Música funky, bluesy, eclesiástica, swinging, wailing, driving...
Julian Adderley y la música de este disco encarnan de algún modo todas esas virtudes, y muchas más. Desde el punto de vista actual, uno se siente como si comparara a Cannonball con Wynton Marsalis. No, no hay polémica. Se puede decir al instante lo que les separa: que yo sepa, Cannonball sólo predicaba a través de su trompa. Pero hay varios rasgos comunes. Cannonball lleva en su planteamiento toda la tradición del jazz tanto como Marsalis -o lo pretende, si no se "cree" en Marsalis-. Se ha dicho que Cannonball, a pesar de su gran originalidad, podía sonar a veces como cualquier saxofonista de cualquier época del jazz. Al mismo tiempo, demostró que podía tocar cualquier tipo de música: música avanzada con Miles Davis, John Coltrane y Bill Evans, jazz latino con los mejores músicos latinos, bossa nova con la flor y nata de los brasileños; y también música de la tercera corriente. Además, se dio a conocer en la época del hard bop de finales de los 50 y los 60, cuando el jazz atravesaba otro periodo de renacimiento, que no se considera como tal porque generó mucha música potente.
Gran parte de ella sonaba más nueva de lo que en realidad era: casar la tradición simplificada del bebop con el folk y el pop negro era una mezcla fuerte, casi tan fuerte como la que, en su día, dio lugar a lo que llamamos jazz. Pero no del todo; no resultó capaz de hacer lo que pretendía: reconciliar a las masas -y en particular al público negro- con el jazz. A día de hoy, el jazz sigue intentando recuperarse de la pérdida de su público masivo a finales de los años cuarenta. El éxito de los hermanos Adderley durante los años sesenta es en sí mismo un logro notable y un recordatorio de que se puede alcanzar la popularidad dentro del ámbito del jazz (sea lo que sea que eso signifique).
Las actuaciones en este concierto de Lugano son excepcionales: El saxo alto de Cannonball, en sí mismo una invitación al país de las maravillas del jazz, y la corneta de Nat Adderley, con su persistente calidez y ebullición. El tenorsax, la flauta y el oboe de Yusef Lateef: es uno de esos músicos que han capturado el sonido del jazz, un logro considerable; además, se mire como se mire el trabajo de Lateef, se tiene la sensación de que nunca se le ha otorgado el reconocimiento que merece. El piano de Joe Zawinul suena como una sección transversal de muchos pianistas de bop y hard bop y, al mismo tiempo, es tan convincente, sólido y siempre dispuesto que no puedes evitar la sensación de que debe haber muchos Zawinuls que nunca tuvieron la oportunidad de desarrollarse. El bajo de Sam Jones se balancea con tanta fuerza que, sin duda, podrías escucharlo sólo para seguir el ritmo y ser feliz. Por último, pero no por ello menos importante, la batería de Louis Hayes está pensada para mantener a todo el mundo ocupado en dar lo mejor de sí mismo. Esta es una grabación que disfrutarás una y otra vez. Tanto porque es en directo como porque está muy vivo.
Norberto Gimelfarb, Universidad de Lausana, Universidad de Ginebra
https://cannonball-adderley.com/1345.htm
Monday, February 17, 2025
Cannonball Adderley • One For Daddy-O
This
release presents the amazing talents of alto saxophonist Cannonball
Adderley in two outstanding performances from his best period - The
first four tracks come from a concert in at the Amsterdam Concertgebouw
given on November 19, 1960, when Cannonball's quintet included his
brother Nat on cornet, Victor Feldman on piano, Sam Jones on bass, and
Louis Hayes on drums - It highlight is, obviously, the title tune, which
had been previously recorded by the saxophonist only on his widely
celebrated 1958 Somethin' Else LP with Miles Davis - Tom Lord's site
lists just three versions of "One for Daddy-O" in the whole Adderley
discography, the Amsterdam one being the second, followed just by a
third one taped two days later in Sweden (on November 22) and issued on
Pablo - Victor Feldman's "Exodus" is another title from which just two
performances exist by Cannonball, the other one being from his official
1960 Riverside album at the Lighthouse - While Bobby Timmons' "Dis Here"
and Oscar Pettiford's "Bohemia After Dark" are tunes more frequented by
Cannonball's different groups, they are always nice to hear in new
performances.
The second four tunes come from a concert at
Theater Bellevue, also in Amsterdam, on June 3, 1966, and feature
Cannonball in a unique background, as the only horn, accompanied by
local musicians, among which shines the piano artistry of Pim Jacobs
(1934-1996), who is heard here in his only known recording with
Cannonball - The start with a blues, and then go through a rendition of
brother Nat's "Work Song", the standard "Stella by Starlight" (first
recorded by Cannonball in 1957 for his album Cannonball Enroute and
rarely recorded by the saxophonist), and Miles Davis' "Tune Up", of
which no other versions by Cannonball are known to exist!
https://www.jazzmessengers.com/es/75323/cannonball-adderley/onefordaddy-o
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Este
lanzamiento presenta el increíble talento del saxofonista alto
Cannonball Adderley en dos interpretaciones sobresalientes de su mejor
época - Las primeras cuatro pistas provienen de un concierto en el
Concertgebouw de Amsterdam dado el 19 de noviembre de 1960, cuando el
quinteto de Cannonball incluía a su hermano Nat en la corneta, Victor
Feldman en el piano, Sam Jones en el bajo y Louis Hayes en la batería -
Lo más destacado es, obviamente, la melodía del título, que había sido
grabada previamente por el saxofonista solo en su célebre LP Somethin'
Else de 1958 con Miles Davis - El sitio de Tom Lord enumera solo tres
versiones de "One for Daddy-O" en toda la discografía de Adderley,
siendo la de Amsterdam la segunda, seguida solo por una tercera grabada
dos días después en Suecia (el 22 de noviembre) y emitida en Pablo -
"Exodus" de Victor Feldman es otro título del que solo existen dos
interpretaciones de Cannonball, la otra es de su álbum oficial de 1960
Riverside en el Lighthouse - Si bien "Dis Here" de Bobby Timmons y
"Bohemia After Dark" de Oscar Pettiford son los temas más frecuentados
por los diferentes grupos de Cannonball, siempre es agradable
escucharlos en nuevas presentaciones.
Los segundos cuatro temas
provienen de un concierto en el Theatre Bellevue, también en Ámsterdam,
el 3 de junio de 1966, y cuentan con Cannonball en un fondo único, como
el único cuerno, acompañado por músicos locales, entre los que brilla el
arte pianístico de Pim Jacobs ( 1934-1996), a quien se escucha aquí en
su única grabación conocida con Cannonball - El comienzo con un blues, y
luego pasa por una interpretación de "Work Song" del hermano Nat, el
estándar "Stella by Starlight" (grabado por primera vez por Cannonball
en 1957 para su álbum Cannonball Enroute y rara vez grabado por el
saxofonista), y Miles Davis - ' "Tune Up", del cual no se sabe que
existan otras versiones de Cannonball.
https://www.jazzmessengers.com/es/75323/cannonball-adderley/onefordaddy-o
Saturday, February 15, 2025
Tuesday, February 11, 2025
Cannonball Adderley • Pyramid
Review
by Scott Yanow
Cannonball Adderley is in generally good form on this 1974 recording. His Quintet at the time featured cornetist Nat Adderley, keyboardist Hal Galper, bassist Walter Booker and drummer Roy McCurdy. Guests on some selections include guitarist Phil Upchurch, keyboardist George Duke and (on "Bess, Oh Where's My Bess") veteran pianist Jimmy Jones. The emphasis is on recent group originals including the three part "Suite Cannon," two Galper compositions and Cannonball's "Pyramid." Nothing too earthshattering occurs but this is an improvement over many of Adderley's Capitol recordings.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/pyramid-mw0000031982
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Reseña
por Scott Yanow
Cannonball Adderley está en buena forma en esta grabación de 1974. Su quinteto de entonces estaba formado por el cornetista Nat Adderley, el teclista Hal Galper, el bajista Walter Booker y el batería Roy McCurdy. Entre los invitados en algunas selecciones se incluyen el guitarrista Phil Upchurch, el teclista George Duke y (en "Bess, Oh Where's My Bess") el veterano pianista Jimmy Jones. El énfasis está en los recientes originales del grupo, incluyendo la "Suite Cannon" en tres partes, dos composiciones de Galper y "Pyramid" de Cannonball. No hay nada demasiado sorprendente, pero es una mejora con respecto a muchas de las grabaciones de Adderley en Capitol.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/pyramid-mw0000031982
Saturday, February 1, 2025
Cannonball Adderley • Domination
Review
by Michael G. Nastos
Following
suit with several other great jazz soloists, Cannonball Adderley teamed
with Oliver Nelson and a star-studded 18-piece big band plus
percussionists for this program of big-band-coerced modern post-bop.
Brother Nat Adderley joins Cannonball, in many instances playing tandem
lines, while the alto saxophonist plays solos on many of these
selections, all originals written by a variety of authors. If you
remember Cannonball Adderley's first album in collaboration with Quincy
Jones, you can easily correlate the similarities between the two
recordings. The difference is that because of the larger choice of
composers, the music has a larger palette, but not necessarily one that
is focused. Bop is the central character, as heard during the title
track in its truly collaborative sound and the exceptional track "Gon
Gong," based in a two-note vehicle that supports the alto saxophonist
and the horn section. Both Adderley brothers play together quite a bit
on head melodies, with the exotic, self-explanatory "Introduction to a
Samba" and the boppish "Interlude" as the best examples. Getting more
into the Latin bit, "Shake a Lady" simmers slowly in a hip and sexy
Afro-Cuban cha-cha, while "Cyclops," despite the unwieldy title, is a
typical soul-jazz number that Nelson regularly doled out, with
counterpointed brass and woodwinds battling it out. While not an
essential or pivotal recording in Cannonball Adderley's career,
Domination is one of his few big-band joint efforts, an intriguing
studio-produced sidebar in his otherwise stellar discography.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/domination-mw0000210528
///////
Reseña
por Michael G. Nastos
Siguiendo
el ejemplo de otros grandes solistas de jazz, Cannonball Adderley se
asoció con Oliver Nelson y una big band de 18 músicos más percusionistas
para este programa de post-bop moderno forzado por big-band. El hermano
Nat Adderley se une a Cannonball, en muchos casos tocando líneas en
tándem, mientras que el saxofonista alto toca solos en muchas de estas
selecciones, todas originales escritas por diversos autores. Si recuerda
el primer álbum de Cannonball Adderley en colaboración con Quincy
Jones, podrá correlacionar fácilmente las similitudes entre ambas
grabaciones. La diferencia es que, debido a la mayor elección de
compositores, la música tiene una paleta más amplia, pero no
necesariamente centrada. El bop es el personaje central, como se escucha
durante el tema que da título al disco en su sonido verdaderamente
colaborativo y en el excepcional tema "Gon Gong", basado en un vehículo
de dos notas que sostiene al saxofonista alto y a la sección de vientos.
Los dos hermanos Adderley colaboran bastante en las melodías de cabeza,
con la exótica y autoexplicativa "Introduction to a Samba" y el boppish
"Interlude" como mejores ejemplos. Entrando más en la parte latina,
"Shake a Lady" se sumerge lentamente en un moderno y sexy cha-cha-cha
afrocubano, mientras que "Cyclops", a pesar de su difícil título, es un
típico número de soul-jazz que Nelson interpreta regularmente, con
metales y maderas contrapunteando. Aunque no se trata de una grabación
esencial o fundamental en la carrera de Cannonball Adderley, Domination
es uno de sus pocos trabajos conjuntos con big-band, una intrigante nota
secundaria producida en estudio en su discografía, por lo demás
estelar.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/domination-mw0000210528
Friday, January 31, 2025
Wednesday, January 29, 2025
Philly Joe Jones • Drums Around The World
Review by Scott Yanow
Drummer Philly Joe Jones takes a lot of solo space (including an unaccompanied "The Tribal Message") throughout this CD reissue. He utilizes an all-star group with such soloists as trumpeter Lee Morgan and Blue Mitchell, trombonist Curtis Fuller, Herbie Mann on flute and piccolo, altoist Cannonball Adderley, Benny Golson on tenor, baritonist Sahib Shihab, pianist Wynton Kelly and either Sam Jones or Jimmy Garrison on bass. The music is supposed to showcase styles from around the world including Latin America and the Far East but in general those references are somewhat superficial (including "Cherokee") and come out sounding like hard bop. There is some strong playing but this set is primarily recommended to fans of Philly Joe Jones's drum solos.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/drums-around-the-world-philly-joe-jones-big-band-sounds-mw0000678907
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Reseña de Scott Yanow
El baterista Philly Joe Jones ocupa mucho espacio en solitario (incluido un "The Tribal Message" sin acompañamiento) a lo largo de esta reedición en CD. Utiliza un grupo de estrellas con solistas como el trompetista Lee Morgan y Blue Mitchell, el trombonista Curtis Fuller, Herbie Mann en flauta y flautín, el altoista Cannonball Adderley, Benny Golson en tenor, el baritonista Sahib Shihab, el pianista Wynton Kelly y Sam Jones o Jimmy Garrison en el bajo. Se supone que la música muestra estilos de todo el mundo, incluidos América Latina y el Lejano Oriente, pero en general esas referencias son algo superficiales (incluido el "Cherokee") y suenan como hard bop. Hay un toque fuerte, pero este set se recomienda principalmente a los fanáticos de los solos de batería de Philly Joe Jones.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/drums-around-the-world-philly-joe-jones-big-band-sounds-mw0000678907