There’s only one saxophone player
whom I have dug more than John Coltrane. It’s alto saxophone player Julian
‘Cannonball’ Adderley. In sound, attitude and expression, he is simply unique.
I was turned on by the meeting
between jazz and rhythm’n’blues/soul and want became souljazz. I was turned on
by his unique collaboration with his brother and trumpet player Nat Adderley,
which is an important headline in the story about Cannonball. I was turned on
by those sidemen he collaborated with, especially Joe Zawinul.
I could go on like this.
It’s Jesper Lundgaard who has
provided with me the opportunity to tell about my enthusiasm for Cannonball.
Lundgaard has recorded a tribute album to the jazz giant.
Previous Lundgaard has released
tribute albums to Jimmy Giuffre, Cornelis Vreeswijk and in 2005 it was themes
from movies.
Once again Lundgaard is with Niclas
Knudsen, guitar and Hans Ulrik, saxophone. They approach the material with both
originality and respect.
One of my great Cannonball-favorites
is Walk Tall. Niclas Knudsen opens the tune with acoustic guitar where the
original uses electric piano. Hans Ulrik adds a cry on his saxophone which is
the spiritual mood of the original worthy.
Of course it’s not fair to Bobby
Timmons to credit Cannonball for the souljazz-classic This Here, as it’s done
on the cover. Cannonball made the melody famous but it was his piano player who
wrote it.
Four of the eleven tracks are
written by members of the trio. They hit the Cannonball-nerve very well.
They do classics: Stars Fell on
Alabama, Nippon Soul and Sack O Woe. A nice ending for an intimate and well
played celebration of one of the biggest alto saxophone player in history
(yeah, yeah, I know Parker is the greatest – but I’m a bigger fan of
Cannonball).
Jesper Lundgaard is playing
aggressive and delicately raw on his bass. He knows when to step forward and
when to retreat.
Niclas Knudsen is playing both
electric and acoustic guitar – together with Hans Ulrik he is creating the
right mood.
Oh, and I have to mention that
nobody uses the bow on a bass better than Jesper Lundgaard. Listen to This Here
and Sack O Woe.
Review: Niels Overgård. Translation: DSI Swinging Europe.
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