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Cannonball Adderley | Essential albums and listening guide
Explore Cannonball Adderley through Somethin' Else. Discover what to listen for and follow related styles to your next record.
Cannonball Adderley
Meet the artist
A alto saxophone player with a blues-influenced style. He participated in Miles Davis’s “Kind of Blue” album, and also contributed many famous soul jazz pieces for his own band. A full, energetic alto sound joins singing melody with bebop agility.
In groups featuring his brother Nat's cornet, shared themes and individual solos build infectious excitement. Blues and gospel familiarity offer a natural entrance into intricate improvisation. Compare sensitive exchanges with Miles Davis to the drive of his own bands. The expressive voice and rhythmic pleasure welcome listeners before any theoretical knowledge is needed.
Where to start listening
Notice both the saxophone's energy and its singable phrases. Learning a theme before following the solo helps you hear the melody unfold.
1958Somethin' Else
Cannonball Adderley / Miles Davis
Although it is listed as a work by Cannonball Adderley, in reality, it was a piece led by Miles Davis. A masterpiece of refined hard bop music.
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1959Cannonball Adderley Quintet in San Francisco
Cannonball Adderley
Live recording at a jazz workshop in San Francisco. A representative work that captures the scene of enthusiastic audiences celebrating the birth of soul jazz.
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Years follow the Atlas catalogue. Recording dates, original release dates and digital reissue dates may differ.