CANNONBALL ADDERLEY QUINTET
In San Francisco (Riverside)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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The previous incarnation of Cannonball Adderley's quintet, featuring his brother Nat on cornet, was disbanded for a couple of years while the altoist spent time with Miles Davis' group and recorded as a leader with other lineups. In 1959, he brought Nat back into the fold, along with previous Quintet vet Sam Jones on bass, and filled out the rhythm section with drummer Louis Hayes and pianist Bobby Timmons. The addition of Timmons was particularly fortuitous, since he perhaps more than any other jazz composer of the time had a feel for the funk inflected, gospel tinged feel of the soul jazz that was about to become the pre-eminent commercial face for the genre.

That was established on this album, recorded on a pair of dates in 1959 at San Francisco's Jazz Workshop. The first cut, Timmons' "This Here," became a concrete example of what is generally considered to be a mythical beast, the actual jazz hit. More was to come, and Cannonball Adderley was about to become synonymous with jazz for many in the pop audience for the next decade. This, though, is where it all started, and it started off fine. The CD release improves on what was already a wonderful recording with the inclusion of nearly 12 minutes of "Straight, No Chaser," which was dropped from the LP because of time constraints.

The music on this CD has stood the test of time, and it's a recognized classic. Fantasy Records, the custodian of the Riverside catalog, has noted that status by issuing this limited release using the JVC 20bit K2 Super Coding technology that they've been applying to the best music in their catalog. It's the best sound you can get for one of the best albums you'll ever hear.

Track List:

This Here * Spontaneous Combustion * Hi-Fly * You Got It! * Bohemia After Dark (aka Birdland After Dark) * Straight, No Chaser

© 2000 - Shaun Dale