Customer Reviews

Somethin Else

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A great example of Cannonball Adderley's gift to the world - his unequaled sense of uncomplicated melody. No other saxophonist in modern jazz had such a love affair with what less sympathetic listeners might deem 'the cliche' - a notable phrase that might have been heard before in numerous lesser recordings, but that Cannonball used because he truly liked the way they sounded, not because he was running out of ideas. His solos on this album and many others are as pleasant to experience as any in jazz, and while at times he came across as a bit of a lightweight, there's always something serene and lovable about his choice of notes, often preferable to the sturm und drang of his contemporaries. This isn't really Cannonball's date, as Miles needed to fill out an album requirement for Blue Note and decided to give his friend a hand. Miles takes the first solos and dominates overall, yet it's also an equal meeting between the two. Great hard bop, with an excellent bonus track, 'Alison's Uncle', sounding like a lost Charlie Parker track from 1953.

As I've said before, I'm not a particularly erudite jazzophile, I just appreciate a well-paced, melodic, and soulful jazz set when I hear it. And this record is superlative. Cannonball's LP, seemingly centered around the masterful phrasings of Miles, brings some great musicians together. Each of them leave an indelible mark on this record, but never at the expense of the whole. In my mind, "Autumn Leaves" and "One for Daddy-O" are the standout tracks.

Along with "Kind of Blue," "Giant Steps," "Moanin'" and "Time Out," (among many others), this is an essential jazz record, not because Ken Burns or anyone else says so, but because it's evident from the first listen. Go ahead and get it.

Somehow I've managed to listen & play jazz, but missed out on this album. Cannonball steals the show. But just listen to who he had for backup: Miles Davis(tpt);Hank Jones on piano;Sam Jones on bass & the great Art Blakey (remember the jazz messengers?) on drums.

One critic said that Miles trumpet sounded shrill & tinny, but I don't agree. I think the guy was just used to hearing him with a mute. You might like to get a CD called "muted Miles" but I have it & still don't agree. BTW there is on this Blue Note reissue a bonus tune called "Bandgoon" about 5 minutes long, the last cut. Everybody gets into the act here. Miles, Cannonball, Blakey, Hank on piano. The only one who doesn't solo is the bass player.

As for the tunes, you'll recognize "Autumn Leaves" & "Love For Sale." But improvisers just "play the changes" & Adderly does a beautiful ballad. Like the jazzers say, "Anyone can learn how to play fast, but it's the guys who can do a great ballad that separates the men from the boys." I highly recommend this CD.

This album is one of the all-time jazz classics and makes it onto just about every "best jazz albums" list. Miles Davis plays on Adderly's album and his influence shows. Very, very nice to listen to. By the way, Adderly played on the legendary "Kind Of Blue" album, the best selling jazz album ever.

This was one of my favorite albums during my early middle school years. I listened to it virtually every day for months on end. There's no surprise why; Miles is at his best on this record and Cannonball, who is surprisingly less eminent here, still sounds great when he does play. Hank Jones was always a wonderful, tasteful pianist and here there is no difference. Art Blakey keeps a great beat throughout. "Autumn Leaves" is classic Miles Davis with his harmon mute, right up there with "Blue In Green", "Bye Bye Blackbird", and so many others. Cannonball sounds great here but Miles truly steals the show. The same thing happens on "Love For Sale", which was a tune that became a standard part of the late 50's repertoire for Miles and company. Hank Jones really gets into some good stuff on his piano solo, especially his introduction. Cannonball only solos once but it's fire, and Miles and Hank take the rest. On the title track, Miles and Cannonball collaborate brilliantly on a tune where they trade parts of the theme. The results are great. Great soloing. The best part is that Miles shows that his chops have really skyrocketed nailing some nice High F's and the like. "One For Daddy-O" is a slow blues where Cannonball really pulls out some of his best playing. His amazing technique tears through the heart of the blues and Miles plays a great solo as well. It's a classic blues. On "Dancing In The Dark", Cannonball solos wonderfully on this tender ballad and it remains tasteful throughout. Miles returns for a playful "Allison's Uncle" to close out this album.

This is an under-rated classic. Any fan of the Miles Davis Quintets and Sextets of the 1950's will love this album.

Just great. The intro to Autumn Leaves is inspired, the intro for Love For Sale is good, and both standards are delivered better than any other performance I've ever heard. I find this CD better listening than Kind Of Blue...definitely a worthwhile acquisition, and a good introduction to Cannonball and Miles. Straight-ahead jazz.

This CD is one for everybody with even a passing interest in jazz, from the working musician to the casual listener who likes to relax with a glass of wine and some gorgeous music.
First, for the non-musician who simply enjoys beautiful music: This CD should be in your regular rotation. The trumpet and saxophone playing, both other-worldly in their own right, seamlessly blend into a beautifully transcendant chiaroscuro of icy cool and fiery depth. The piano playing is also brilliant, ranging from swinging and funky to classically dignified.

Now for the hard-core jazz fan:
If you don't own this, get it now! If you own this and haven't listened to it for a while, listen now! This is not Miles at his most adventurous or most innovative. Here his skills as an arranger who is able to bring street sensibilities to high-level jazz without pandering or losing one iota of integrity are on full display. But fear not, because brilliant soloing abounds in the persona of Cannonball Adderley. Technical fireworks tempered with deep blues and a Bird-informed be-bop sensibility are all on display by the masterful Cannonball here. Hank Jones is the secret power of this session, displaying multi-faceted chops that must have had Miles grinning with anticipation as he put together these arrangements. Art Blakey brings his usual personality here, but also adds more melodicism than customary, even approaching the incredible work of Max Roach on "Saxophone Colossus" during the title track.

There is one bit that seems to be missing. One of the things that made Miles' quintet with Coltrane so amazing was hearing the eloquence of the muted trumpet, followed by the titanic power of Coltrane's tenor sax. If I have any criticism of this album, it is that all of the soloists are so proficient in this idiom that they seem content to fly above the music, rather than getting down and rasslin' with it the way Coltrane might have. To my mind, an album with Miles and Coltrane powered by Blakey might have exceeded even the considerable heights attained by "Somethin' Else". But in any case, what we have is more than we should ever hope to ask for.

My experience with Cannonbal was mostly through Miles Davis a couple of other CD's, (Cannonball and Coltrane), (Nippon Soul). This CD is not on the same level as those other two works but still a worhty listen. I recommend the former 2 if not in your collection or if you want a better taste of his amazing talent. Get this one to complete your library.

This is one of my favorite Jazz Cds of all time. The beauty of the opening lines of Autumn Leaves will just knock you out..guaranteed. Miles Davis is unbelievably cool on this recording and Cannonball's Alto solos are stunning. Sam Jones and Art Blakey provide a powerful bottom to all the cuts and the piano of Hank Jones is understated and tastefull. What an incredible performance ..every cut is a gem. Deserves 10 stars.

This is simply my favorite jazz album. Just buy it and listen to it over and over again. You will not be sorry, I assure you.