What Is This Thing Called Soul [Live]

Cannonball Adderley, Nat Adderley | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 30, 1994)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Live
• Label: Ojc
• ASIN: B000000YZU
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #73,761 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Getting to know Cannonball, January 13, 2011

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AP - See all my reviews

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This review is from: What Is This Thing Called Soul (Audio CD)

Of all the great jazz musicians of the 20th century, Cannonball is perhaps one of the most over-looked--if not for the common title as a "new Bird", then for his paling innovations when compared to Coltrane, Davis, whoever. But for those of us who have listened to Cannon, particularly myself, it's evident that no shortage of individuality or inventiveness from this saxophone dynamo. Simply put, Cannonball's one of the greatest players in jazz who has or ever will live. And I think anyone wishing to know this man's personality as a player, introductory or revelatory, this is the album to get.

This was recorded over a long period of live recordings in Europe in the 1960's, and as the material shows, they've compiled some really great tunes (not that such a thing proves challenging for this quintet). The players on the record are veritable greats in the jazz idiom: whether Nat's full, powerful cornet and compositional skills, whether Sam Jones's stellar bass, Louis Hayes's sense of swing on drums, Victor Feldman's throughly funky piano, or whether Cannonball's organic, bombastic alto are concerned, it takes very little to appreciate the great musicians and subsequent music assembled herein.

The first two tunes are Victor Feldman's "Azule Serape" and Percy Heath's "O.P," and they get us off to a grooving and swinging start. But I think the real heart of the record shows through the last three tracks. Nat's "One for Daddy-O" is simply one of the best minor blues of all time, and Cannon shows a great mastery over the form with a solo that never seems overly long no matter the times heard; Feldman's "The Chant" is what packs in this albums soul, again with great solos by Cannonball (particularly the break), Nat, and the songwriter himself. One complaint about the Adderley Quintet is the lack of standards played, but the last track, "What is this Thing Called Love?," offers a fantastic arrangement of the tune, again with great solos all around, all worth transcribing.

If there's any indication in "What is This Thing Called Soul?," it's that you'll know what soul is after hearing the album. From Cannonball's jovial introductions, to the audience's enthusiasm, and especially the bombastic music itself, this album is both a listening and learning pleasure served to you by one of the greatest jazz groups of all time.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cannonball at his best!!, February 21, 2005

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Michael Walton (Perry, GA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: What Is This Thing Called Soul (Audio CD)

This issuch a great live album for it to be overlooked like it has. Cannonball and Nat are swingin' hard. A great album for anyone who is a fan of true music. "Big P" is the best song on this album, Cannonballs'solo is masterful. It has more soul than James Brown(if thats even possible). A must buy for any music fan.