Search - Cannonball Adderley :: Poll Winners

One of Cannonball's Top 3 Recordings

Michael B. Richman | Portland, Maine USA | 07/12/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Cannonball Adderley and the Poll Winners" is a welcome reissue by Capitol. This recording in my opinion ranks up there with the classics "Somethin' Else" and "Know What I Mean?" An all-star lineup of Wes Montgomery, Victor Feldman (alternating between piano and vibes), Ray Brown and Louis Hayes tackle six swinging tunes in winning fashion. The two best tracks are "Lolita," featuring terrific interplay between Wes' guitar and Feldman on vibes, and Feldman's "Azule Scrape" which'll get 'em dancin' in the aisles. The CD contains an alternate take of Bird's "Au Privave" that was not on the original LP. Fire off another winner for Cannonball!"

Great line-up, great music!

Jeffrey M. Bailey | Richmond, Virginia United States | 02/01/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have to admit I expected alot from this disc when a friend let me borrow it. I'm a big Adderley fan, and have tried to emulate Ray Brown in my own bass playing for years (without the success I had hoped for). But I never knew this CD existed, nor did I know that Wes ever played with these guys (all his early stuff knocks me out). I loved it from the first 30 seconds, even though Wes only comps on the first cut - I mean, why have him on a song if he's not going to solo, right?? However, I'd rather hear him comp than most people solo anyway...listen to the way he backs up Victor Feldman's piano solo. Of course, by the 2nd number, Wes is in full swing. Chock full of great tunes and inspired solos, you can't afford to pass on this CD. My personal favorite is Lolita (track 2), but that changes depending on which track I'm listening to at the moment. Feldman's vibe playing is spectacular, as well. You can't go wrong!"

Solid but unremarkable all-star meeting

G B | Connecticut | 09/14/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This is one of the more unremarkable and bland Cannonball albums I've heard. It was his first recording with Victor Feldman, who would briefly take over the group's piano seat until Joe Zawinul's arrival, and also features one of only two recorded appearances Cannonball made with the legendary guitarist Wes Montgomery.



The music itself is fairly standard late 50s/early 60s Cannonball. There aren't a lot of recordings of Cannonball playing Bird during the 60s, so this version of "Au Privave" is somewhat noteworthy. Feldman's "Azule Serape" gets a better read on the Live at the Lighthouse LP from later in 1960. The highlight of the album is the closer, a very nice +8 minute, briskly swinging "Never Will I Marry".



Those who are less lukewarm on Wes Montgomery than me will probably have a greater appreciation for this album, but there are at least three or four other Cannonball albums from the 1959-1960 period that I would recommend first."