Catch a Cannonball

Fifty years after he played his last.

This summer will mark 50 years since the death of Julian “Cannonball” Adderley, one of the great saxophonists people may have forgotten or never knew at all. In some bars or diners across the land it is still possible to hear him introduce his classic tune.

“You know, sometimes we’re not prepared for adversity,” Cannonball explains, as the music plays. “When it happens sometimes, we’re caught short. We don’t know exactly how to handle it when it comes up. Sometimes, we don’t know just what to do when adversity takes over. And I have advice for all of us. I got it from my pianist Joe Zawinul who wrote this tune. And it sounds like what you’re supposed to say when you have that kind of problem. It’s called mercy, mercy, mercy.”

Cannonball’s younger brother Nat, a trumpeter, wrote “Jive Samba,” heard here below in a live performance. Cannonball composed “Bohemia After Dark,” covered here by Herbie Mann and Phil Woods in fine style. When Adderley played tunes written by others, he always made them his own, as on the standard “I Remember You.” In one measure you know it’s him.

Here is Cannonball on “Barefoot Sunday Blues,” with a gospel kind of feeling. Compare the more conventional “Sack O’ Woe,” and “Work Song,” also by brother Nat. Here is Cannonball on “Limehouse Blues,” with the great John Coltrane. On Victor Young’s “A Weaver of Dreams,” Adderley lets John have all of it. The tune was one of Coltrane’s favorites, but Adderley also knew his way around a ballad.

Cannonball shines on “Stars Fell on Alabama,” and check him out on “I Guess I’ll Hang My Tears Out to Dry,” by the great Sammy Cahn. “Poor Butterfly,” from the same album, shows Adderley’s soulful side, but there’s more to him. Here is Cannonball on Antonio Carlos Jobim’s “Corcovado,” with the Bossa Rio Sextet of Brazil. They also perform Jobim’s “Once I Loved” and “Groovy Samba” by Sergio Mendez, composer of “Mas Que Nada.”

First and foremost an alto man, Adderley plays soprano on “Country Preacher” and “Ndolima,” from his Accent on Africaalbum. His playing has a singing quality, so no surprise he hooked up with Nancy Wilson on “Save Your Love for Me,” by the underrated Buddy Johnson who also composed “Since I Fell for You,” a hit for Lenny Welch in 1963. From the same album, here is Cannonball on “I Can’t Get Started,” written by Vernon Duke and Ira Gershwin in 1936.

Adderley’s full discography would have been even more extensive if he had not passed away in 1975 at age 46. He inspired many players, including David Sanborn, who left us last year.