Happy Birthday Cannonball Adderley

[R_of_G]

Born on Sept. 15, 1928, Julian "Cannonball" Adderley was a an alto sax player who played with Miles Davis on the landmark record "Kind of Blue" (and a few other notable sessions) as well as leading several of his own great bands. Adderley's quintet and sextet recordings are some of my favorite in all of jazz. The quintet's recording of band-member Joe Zawinul's "Mercy Mercy Mercy" (the live version from the Paris concert album) is among my favorite pieces of music ever recorded. Adderley passed away in 1975.


ps. Adderley hailed from my current hometown of Tampa, Florida.

 

[Robert]

I listened a lot to Cannonball when I started out with jazz. He was a phenomenal player.

 

[R_of_G]

Same here Robert. Among my first purchases in my jazz collection were "Milestones" and "Kind of Blue" which led not only to my undying love and obsession with all things Miles-related, but led me to explore the work of the other members of the band for those sessions. Adderley has been a favorite ever since.