Released: 1959
Tracks: Limehouse Blues; Stars Fell on Alabama; Wabash; Grand Central; You’re a Weaver of Dreams; The Sleeper
Best track: Limehouse Blues
Track to skip: none
This album was originally issued under Cannonball Adderley’s name, but as Coltrane grew into a big name, the album was reissued as Cannonball & Coltrane. I think the latter is more correct, as it’s clearly a group led by both saxophonists. In addition to Cannonball on alto sax and Coltrane on tenor, there’s Jimmy Cobb on drums, Paul Chambers on bass and Wynton Kelly on piano. In other words, the same group that recorded Kind of Blue…well, minus Miles Davis (and switch Bill Evans for Kelly on most of Kind of Blue’s songs). This album was recorded about a month before the first sessions for Kind of Blue, but it honestly sounds nothing like that album. That these players could make albums within a month of each other and sound this different, it’s very impressive. The Quartet in Chicago album is more rooted to more established style of jazz and probably wasn’t seen as amazingly groundbreaking. That doesn’t mean it’s not good, because it absolutely is good.
I think this is a very enjoyable album, even if it’s a bit short. Yes, I want to hear more! I love the back and forth of the soloing on Limehouse Blues and Cannonball’s tone on Stars Fell on Alabama is excellent. I mean, both of these guys are kings of tone so it’s not a surprise. The weaving back and forth on the melody of Grand Central is a ton of fun. Chambers and Cobb are both extremely solid and I love Paul Chambers’ bass line on The Sleeper. It has this great “lumbering” quality to it. That’s the perfect name for this song. Oh, I have to say I love Wynton Kelly’s singing along while he solos. You can hear this most clearly in the slower numbers like Stars Fell on Alabama and Weaver of Dreams. It’s nice to hear that subtlety when listening with headphones.
I like this album a good bit and it’s really enjoyable. There’s great playing all around and it’s good to hear this group in a different mood than what they’d do in the next couple of months. Keep in mind that both albums have the same material, just different covers.
Rating: 88
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