AMG Review of Ultimate Cannonball Adderley

Cub Koda
All Music Guide

As another entry in Verve's Ultimate series, this brings together 16 classic recordings by Cannonball Adderly, all of them personally selected by former band pianist Joe Zawinul. Beginning with a trio of tunes from 1958's Emarcy Small Group Sessions, the set moves on to include Adderly in quintet and larger group configurations, and even a trio of sides from his sessions backed by a string orchestra playing ballads. Adderly was the next logical step after Charlie "Bird" Parker, and his alto sax work was second to none, utilizing Bird's style and mixing it up with healthy doses from Johnny Hodges and Benny Carter to create his own potent style. His duets with John Coltrane on "Limehouse Blues," "Wabash," "Grand Central," and "The Sleeper" are jazz on the edge with both saxophonists challenging each other in the friendliest of musical competitions. This is a topnotch set that belongs in any jazz lover's collection.