The Cannonball Adderley Sextet as they appeared on the 625 Program at the BBC on May 14, 1964.
Appearing with Nat Adderley – Cornet, Charles Lloyd – Tenor Sax, Flute, Joe Zawinul – Piano, Sam Jones – Bass and Louis Hayes – Drums.
Adderley’s direct style on alto was indebted to the biting clarity of Charlie Parker, but it also significantly drew from the warm, rounded tones of Benny Carter; hard swingers such as Louis Jordan and Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson were important influences as well. Adderly became a seminal influence on the hard-driving style known as hard-bop, and could swing ferociously at faster tempos, yet he was also an effective and soulful ballad stylist.
From 1956-57, Adderley led his own band featuring Nat, pianist Junior Mance and bassist Sam Jones. The group broke up when he was invited to join the Miles Davis Quintet in 1957. Davis expanded his group to a Sextet soon thereafter by hiring saxophonist John Coltrane. “I felt that Cannonball’s blues-rooted alto sax up against Trane’s harmonic, chordal way of playing, his more free-form approach, would create a new kind of feeling,” Davis explained in his autobiography.
From 1957-59, Adderley recorded some of his best work on the landmark Davis albums Milestones and Kind of Blue within this sextet. Davis reciprocated with a guest appearance on Adderly’s 1958 solo album Somethin’ Else, which also included bassist Jones, pianist Hank Jones, and drummer Art Blakey.
Adderley left the Davis band to reform his quintet in 1959, this time with his brother, Sam Jones, pianist Bobby Timmons and drummer Louis Hayes. Yusef Lateef made it a sextet around 1962; pianist Joe Zawinul replaced Timmons around 1963. Other band alumni include Charles Lloyd, and pianists Barry Harris, Victor Feldman and George Duke.
In case you missed this historic gig on the BBC in 1964, have a listen and put your Sunday mind at ease.
