Cannonball Adderley Sextet - Lugano, 1963 (1995)

×

Cannonball Adderley Sextet - Lugano, 1963 (1995)

Close

LUGANO 1963 is a radio transcription released as part of TCB Records' SWISS RADIO DAYS series of live-jazz discs. The recording may not be as pristine-sounding as some of Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's live discs from this era, like PARIS 1960 or 1966's IN JAPAN, but it's impossible to argue with the contents.

LUGANO 1963 was recorded with nearly the same sextet lineup that released the classic NIPPON SOUL album the same year: alto saxophonist Adderley, his cornetist brother Nat, reedsman Yusef Lateef, pianist Joe Zawinul, bassist Sam Jones, and drummer Louis Hayes. The recording features a scorching take on NIPPON SOUL's classic "Work Song" alongside six other representative tracks from this era of Adderley's career. "Jive Samba" and "Bohemia after Dark" are particularly strong, with both brothers and Lateef blowing some remarkable solos over the tight rhythm section.

Digitally remastered by Antoine Ogay.

This is part of TCB's Swiss Radio Days Jazz Series.

Cannonball Adderley Sextet: Cannonball Adderley (alto saxophone); Yusef Lateef (tenor saxophone, flute, oboe); Nat Adderley (cornet); Joe Zawinul (piano); Sam Jones (bass); Louis Hayes (drums).

Cannonball Adderley: Julian "Cannonball" Adderley (alto saxophone); Sam Jones (bass guitar); Joe Zawinul, Louis Hayes, Nat Adderley, Yusef Lateef.

cduniverse

×

Cannonball Adderley Sextet - Lugano, 1963 (1995)

Close

Cannonball Adderley:

One of the great alto saxophonists, Cannonball Adderley had an exuberant and happy sound that communicated immediately to listeners. His intelligent presentation of his music (often explaining what he and his musicians were going to play) helped make him one of the most popular of all jazzmen.

Adderley already had an established career as a high school band director in Florida when, during a 1955 visit to New York, he was persuaded to sit in with Oscar Pettiford's group at the Cafe Bohemia. His playing created such a sensation that he was soon signed to Savoy and persuaded to play jazz full-time in New York. With his younger brother, cornetist Nat, Cannonball formed a quintet that struggled until its breakup in 1957. Adderley then joined Miles Davis, forming part of his super sextet with John Coltrane and participating on such classic recordings as Milestones and Kind of Blue. Adderley's second attempt to form a quintet with his brother was much more successful for, in 1959, with pianist Bobby Timmons, he had a hit recording of "This Here." From then on, Cannonball always was able to work steadily with his band.

During its Riverside years (1959-1963), the Adderley Quintet primarily played soulful renditions of hard bop and Cannonball really excelled in the straight-ahead settings. During 1962-1963, Yusef Lateef made the group a sextet and pianist Joe Zawinul was an important new member. The collapse of Riverside resulted in Adderley signing with Capitol and his recordings became gradually more commercial. Charles Lloyd was in Lateef's place for a year (with less success) and then with his departure the group went back to being a quintet. Zawinul's 1966 composition "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" was a huge hit for the group, Adderley started doubling on soprano, and the quintet's later recordings emphasized long melody statements, funky rhythms, and electronics. However, during his last year, Cannonball Adderley was revisiting the past a bit and on Phenix he recorded new versions of many of his earlier numbers. But before he could evolve his music any further, Cannonball Adderley died suddenly from a stroke.

~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

×

Cannonball Adderley Sextet - Lugano, 1963 (1995)

Close

×

Cannonball Adderley Sextet - Lugano, 1963 (1995)

Close