Was jazz really once this enjoyable?
Somehow found by the detective work by Zev Feldman and Cory Weeds, this album is from a series of radio broadcasts from Seattle, Washington’s Penthouse Jazz Club back in June of 1966 and October of ’67. Alto saxist Cannonball Adderley was with the band that had the mega hit “Mercy Mercy Mercy” of the same year of this gig, namely Brother Nat on cornet, pianist and future Weather Reporter Joe Zawinul, bassist Victor Gaskin and Jazztet alumnus Roy McCurdy on drums. The team is in soulful stride, and the joy of this session is not only the snapping tunes such as “”Hippodelphia” and “ Big ‘P’” but the hip little intros and conversations that Cannonball gives for each song richly adds to the atmosphere.
Adderley’s alto is in rich and warm form, shining with clarity on “The Girl Next Door” (with brother Nat in a hiply Harmon-muted Miles mood) and suavely doing a sensuous samba on “Manha De Carnaval.” He delivers a bel canto “Somewhere” (after Zawinul’s wondrous intro) with Nat bold and brassy on “Big P,” and stepping out on a hip “Back Home Blues” after Zawinul brings in the incessant pulse of his “74 Miles Away.” Cannonball was on a roll during this period, and this album has him hit a lucky 7.
The booklet with liner notes includes a chat with McCurdy as well as an assessment of Cannonball by alto saxist Vincent Herring. Joyful swing and snappy bop.