CANNONBALL ADDERLEY
Cannonball's Bossa Nova (Capitol)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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Cannonball Adderly wasn't widely identified with the bossa nova craze of the early sixties, but the evidence on this disc, a reissue of his 1962 recording for the Riverside label, shows that it wasn't for lack of trying. If you're among those for whom Stan Getz' tenor was the definitive bossa nova saxophone, Adderly's alto efforts here will be something of a revelation. His true tone and almost airy voicings are perfect complements to the Brazilian rhythms of the Bossa Rio Sextet.

That sextet was as important to the quality of the sessions as Adderly. For his entry into the bossa nova sweepstakes, Cannonball chose to record with an established group of young Brazilians which included Durval Ferreira on guitar, Octavio Bailly, Jr. on bass, Pedro Paulo on trumpet and Paulo Moura on alto saxophone. The remaining members of the Bossa Rio Sextet would become the best known eventually - pianist Sergio Mendes as the leader of the Brazilian pop group Brazil '66 (and so forth...) and drummer Dom Um Romao as a member of Weather Report. Here, most of the players are in a backup role, with only Mendes soloing beside Adderly. It's an admirable job of backup, though, and roots the music in the genuine bossa nova sound and spirit.

Also noteworthy is the material. While there is the obligatory track from the pen of Antonio Carlos Jobim ("Corcovado" in this case), most of the material is original, largely by guitarist Ferreira and his composing partner Mauricio Einhorn. Mendes' "Groovy Sambas" offers a glimpse of the music that would make him famous in just a few years. the Ferreira/Einhorn composition "Clouds" was also recorded in a shortened version for release as a single, as producer Orin Keepnews attempted to do for Cannonball what "Girl From Ipanema" had done for Stan Getz. The track didn't hit like "Ipanema" did, but it was a fine effort and is included here as a bonus cut, along with an alternate take of "Cordovado."

Brazilian music has been a regular fixture of jazz and pop since those heady days when the bossa nova was truly new, and the songs and artistry on this album are good illustration of the reasons why.

Track List:

Clouds * Minha Saudades * Corcovado * Batida Diferentes * Joyce's Sambas * Groovy Sambas * O Amor Em Paz (Once I Loved) * Sambops * Corcovado (alternate take) * Clouds (single version)

© 2000 - Shaun Dale