© Anna Demovidova

Knox has taken a well earned weekend off and left the place unlocked. So, sit back, grab your favorite beverage, they’re on the house – just ask for George – and enjoy.

Tonights journey is going to take us, once again, into the realm of Live Recordings. Some of you regulars may recall my preference for Live music, of all genres:

Let me preface this with an acknowledgment of the fact that I strongly hold that the best way to experience, enjoy and understand music is to see it live. That being said, the second-best way is to get a Live Recording …

So, off we go…nothing’s been changed, not even the names to protect the innocent…
The feature album tonight is:


Cannonball Adderly   Radio Nights     Hyena

Julian “Cannonball” Adderly loomed large over the alto saxophone landscape after the death of Charlie Parker. This album, rereleased in 2002 on CD, is a collection of music from several live radio broadcasts from the old Half Note in New York City during December 1967, and January 1968, and finds Cannonball leading his most famous band. Composed of his brother Nat on cornet, tenor saxophonist Charles Lloyd, keyboardist Joe Zawinul, bassist Sam Jones and drummer Louis Hayes.  

The song selection and playing tends toward the blues, as is often the case with Cannonball’s work, with some very interesting excursions into other songbooks. Especially interesting is a high-speed version of “Fiddler on the Roof” that puts today’s klezmer fanatics to shame. Cannonball tears through the modal changes before handing the baton to Nat, who then gets some Dizzy Gillespie-esque high note histrionics going before beginning to experiment with the rhythms of the piece. I hardly expected a piece like this to swing, but it most surely does. Another stunning performance is to be found in Work Song featuring brilliant call and response playing between Cannonball and Charles Lloyd.

The unusual final track, comprised of monologues by Adderley on the blues and Jesse Jackson is, surprisingly, extremely entertaining. I could listen to Cannonball testify like this all night long.

There are plenty of folks who feel that Cannonball never got his proper due, but there is no denying that the times have finally caught up, and that there are few artists who have been as influential.

All in all, Radio Nights would be a welcome addition to any jazz fan’s music library, as well as providing an  interesting look into the spirit and personality of this talented artist.

Very Highly Recommended

Info and mp3 samples available at Hyena Records

New Releases of Note:

Ralph Towner’s 21st Album for ECM, Time Line: recorded last year, it is the 5th. stunning solo acoustic work by one of the preeminent guitarists playing today.

Medesky, Martin & Wood’s Note Bleu: an anthology of their work for Blue Note c.1998-2005. Adventurous blending of jazz, funk and electronica…if you’ve never listened to them, clik the link and give it a spin. [mp3] It’s a pretty good cross section of their oeuvre, let me know what you think.

Enjoy

Later

Peace