Joe G Posted March 15, 2003 Report Posted March 15, 2003 I'll admit right up front that I'm a bit of a Cannonball neophyte, with only about 7 or 8 cd's of his music in my collection. But I sure enjoy what I do have to listen to. Live in San Francisco has to be one of the greatest live dates ever put out. What a rollicking good time it must have been to be there. I just love the spirit of that music, and of the man. And how about his solo on Love For Sale with the Miles Davis quintet. Amazing. There's an interesting article on Hal Galper's webpage about his time with Cannonball. He talks about how hard that band worked on stage, as well as how huge the beat was. (halgalper.com). The downbeat article is also nicely written. I'd like to hear from anyone who wants to write about their favorite albums or tracks, or especially if anyone got to see him live. Long Live Cannonball! Quote
Harold_Z Posted March 15, 2003 Report Posted March 15, 2003 (edited) I saw Cannon live once - in Montclair NJ around 1971 in a jazz club called the Sterington House. Nat, George Duke, Victor Gaskin (? - am I remembering right?), Louis Hayes. All I can say is Cannon was a master. WHAT A MUSICIAN! WHAT A PLAYER! Incredible sound...flawless chops..breathtaking improvisations.. I could just go on and on with the superlatives but I think you guys get it. Edited March 15, 2003 by Harold_Z Quote
Bill Fenohr Posted March 15, 2003 Report Posted March 15, 2003 Being an old dude, i saw Cannon a number of times. I think the first time when he was with Miles. Also anytime the sextet with Yusef played a gig in Detroit. Besides being one of the greatest alto players ever IMO he had a way of connecting with a audience that was remarkable. He made the evening just plain fun, which i think hurt him with alot of the "critics". He could work a room, and the people just loved him. Some of my favorite sides are Live At The Lighthouse, Nippon Soul and At The Jazz Workshop Revisited. Oh hell, you can't go wrong with any of his albums. Quote
Joe G Posted March 15, 2003 Author Report Posted March 15, 2003 Seems strange, doesn't it, that because Cannonball had that quality of fun in his music, it might have lessened his reputation as a serious musician in the minds of some critics. Music is supposed to encompass the full range of human experience. And fun is a critical part of life, for sure. Genuine laughter is often the response to the sudden recognition of a revealed truth. I think it ties into that whole mythology that our culture has about artists being morose and somber and dressing in all black. If someone is festive and lively and happy, while also producing great art, I might tend to think they figured out the secrets to living a good life! Quote
mikeb Posted March 16, 2003 Report Posted March 16, 2003 (edited) I'm fascinated by what he said on his live dates almost as much as what he played! He seemed to be a very intelligent man with a tremendous wit. I can only wish I had seen him ... Edited March 16, 2003 by mikeb Quote
Jim Alfredson Posted March 17, 2003 Report Posted March 17, 2003 I like the dates Cannonball did for Riverside. That stuff swings hard! Thank goodness Capitol is re-issuing those dates. Quote
Harold_Z Posted March 17, 2003 Report Posted March 17, 2003 >>That stuff swings hard<< Indeed! And this seems like the right time for me to put my 2 cents in on what a great bassist Sam Jones was. He was terrific. Quote
Saint Vitus Posted March 18, 2003 Report Posted March 18, 2003 Courtesy of the Miles Davis list ... A RealVideo clip of Cannonball and Jose Feliciano on Kung Fu Quote
Jim Alfredson Posted March 18, 2003 Report Posted March 18, 2003 I never knew! That's hilarious! What era is that show supposed to be set in? Wasn't the saxophone invented in 1880? Quote
JSngry Posted March 18, 2003 Report Posted March 18, 2003 Grasshopper, Kung Fu was set somewhere in the late 1800s-early 1900s, I believe. The saxophone was invented around 1840. But you must watch all the episodes and learn, not ask before knowing. Such is the way the master teaches. Quote
chris olivarez Posted March 19, 2003 Report Posted March 19, 2003 I picked up the downbeat with Cannon on it but I have yet to read the article something I intend to change soon.Man was Cannon Awesome!!! Quote
JSngry Posted March 19, 2003 Report Posted March 19, 2003 I suspect tha many of us here were alive and cognizant when Ball passed. Surely it wasn't just me who felt it to be a heavier than usual blow, not so much to the music as to the overall culture? Has time proven that gut feeling accurate? I myself think it has. Quote
JSngry Posted March 19, 2003 Report Posted March 19, 2003 I'm fascinated by what he said on his live dates almost as much as what he played! Given their current holdings, Fantasy could make an "essential" (and probably best-selling!) catalog item by putting out a compilation of announcements/introductions by Cannonball Adderly & Duke Ellington. I may yet do it myself and offer it as a freebie. But don't hold your breath, not just yet. Let me get my kids graduamated first... Quote
Harold_Z Posted March 20, 2003 Report Posted March 20, 2003 I suspect tha many of us here were alive and cognizant when Ball passed. Surely it wasn't just me who felt it to be a heavier than usual blow, not so much to the music as to the overall culture? Has time proven that gut feeling accurate? I myself think it has. It was a heavy blow for sure. Cannon hung on for a while after the stroke - I forget how long - a couple of weeks maybe. I was hoping and praying he'd make it. Cannon was one of the "special" people. Quote
alankin Posted March 22, 2003 Report Posted March 22, 2003 Great hair! Oh, by the way, his album, "Fiddler On The Roof," will be out from Blue Note on 5/20/03. Quote
JSngry Posted March 22, 2003 Report Posted March 22, 2003 Alan, I forget - is Charles Lloyd on that one? My mind says "yes", but my body says "no". Quote
pryan Posted March 22, 2003 Report Posted March 22, 2003 (edited) Jim, your mind was right According to AMG (couldn't get the link to work), the lineup is Cannonball, Nat, Lloyd, Zawinul, Sam Jones and Louis Hayes Edited March 22, 2003 by pryan Quote
Soul Stream Posted March 22, 2003 Report Posted March 22, 2003 For anybody that want to SEE Cannonball in his prime, check out the Jazz Casual and also Jazz Scene USA video/DVDs....they're great! Quote
Man with the Golden Arm Posted March 28, 2003 Report Posted March 28, 2003 I was just looking at this site yesterday. Cannonball 45s Quote
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