Search - Cannonball Adderley :: Cannonball Takes Charge

From the cover to the last note...

douglasnegley | Pittsburgh, Pa. United States | 09/25/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a great CD. True, it was a Riverside session - the cover is a Riverside picture - and now released by Capitol, where Cannon went in 1963, tapes in tow, and that shows both in the groove and the personnel: Wynton, Chambers, Cobb, and the Heath brothers. Every single track, alternate takes included, is Cannonball blowing in his very best soul/gospel/blues/bop mode. It is interesting to contrast "Barefoot Sunday Blues" on this recording with "Spontaneous Combustion" on the equally 5-star "Cannonball 5tet In San Fransisco" with a completely different group of sidemen and his brother, Nat. Notice also Wynton playing the identical 'turnaround' on this tune, right before Percy takes his, as on "Things Are Getting Better", the title track from another Riverside classic. Really nice to see this material reissued on CD."

Cannonball Takes Charge

Tom B. | New Jersey | 08/07/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In my humble opinion, the most underrated jazz album ever! This album never seemed to get much attention mainly because albums done by Cannonball's quintet have overshadowed this masterpiece. Recorded while Cannonball was a featured member of the amazing Miles Davis Sextet, this album demonstrates him at the top of his game. The album has this very light feeling about it, even though Cannonball swings hard. The way Cannonball and the band (Wynton Kelly on piano, with either Paul Chambers or Percy Heath on bass, and either Jimmy Cobb or Albert "Tootie" Heath on drums) treat these classics is just amazing. The only track that isn't a standard is the intriguing original "Barefoot Sunday Blues", which once again demonstrates Cannonball's mastery of the blues. If I had to pick my favorite track on this set it would have to be "Poor Butterfly" (It's interesting to compare the differences between this version and the one on Sonny Rollins's masterpiece "Volume Two".) This album really deserves more attention than it gets, so if you're a fan of "Somethin' Else", Cannonball's work with the Miles sextet, or his work with his classic quintet, you will love this album!"

The Blues Church...at least during the 2nd half

Pharoah S. Wail | Inner Space | 01/30/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a really cool album. Actually it's more like 2 mini albums in one. It's 2 different bands with 2 quite different approaches.



Tracks 1 - 4 are Cannonball on alto, Wynton Kelly on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Jimmy Cobb on drums.



Tracks 5 - 9 are Cannonball on alto, Wynton Kelly on piano, Percy Heath on bass, and Tootie Heath on drums.



Tracks 1 - 4 are nice enough, but for me, tracks 5 - 9 are the heart and soul of this album. The 5 - 9 band is just killin'... bluesier, soul-drenched, hard-swinging magic. Plus I just like the later tunes more than the first ones.



I remember the first time I listened to this disc. For the first few tracks I was thinking wow Cannonball isn't the bluesd-out soul master on this one. Then the disc hit that midpoint where it changes bands and I was like now THIS is what I come to hear Cannonball for! Even the sound is better on the 2nd half. There is more of a magical halo around Cannonball's tone. It has more of that open, spacious Blue Note type of feel.



Ditto that on Wynton Kelly. Not so much on that golden halo, but on the playing. The first half is nice enough, but the second half is that bluesy, slowed-down, knock-out quintessential Wynton Kelly playing. He was one of the all-time greats. There's no two ways about it.



Just get this one, you won't regret it. You could even get this and Cannonball's "Something Else" as your 2 first jazz discs and be well on your way to a killer collection.



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