Search - Cannonball Adderley :: In San Francisco (Shm)

Spirited Fun.

Samuel Chell | Kenosha,, WI United States | 10/04/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In the late 50s and early 60s Cannonball enjoyed unparallelled popularity, marked by the commercially successful Riverside releases of first his quintet and later his sextet (Yusef Lateef was the 3rd horn). The sessions were frequently recorded live, included spoken introductions by the ebullient Cannonball, featured mostly "accessible" tunes, and showcased at least one crowd-pleaser (This Here, Sack of Woe, Jive Samba, Mercy Mercy) that was also released as a hit single.These sessions are memorable less for the individual solos than the fire of the ensemble, anchored and propelled by perhaps the best walking bass player in the business, Sam Jones. When I return to these recordings, I can't help but lament the absence of such ensembles on the scene today as well as be reminded of the relatively tough times Cannonball would encounter in the late 60s and early 70s, when he had trouble booking the group. (I remember him having to "audition" for ignorant Student Activities Directors shopping for next year's campus entertainment.)"Live in San Francisco" is an exemplary session, certainly the equal of any of the other recordings by Cannonball with his own group. If a choice is to be made, I would personally favor the recordings with Victor Feldman on piano, rather than Joe Zawinul or Bobby Timmons, the pianist on this particular session. Regardless, with the renewed interest in "acoustic" straightahead jazz, any of the recordings should be required listening for the ensemble sound alone."

Agreeing...again...

douglasnegley | Pittsburgh, Pa. United States | 09/12/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a supremely superior session. The 'crowd pleaser' pleases exactly as it is meant to, and when Cannonball comes in off of Bobby Timmons' 'intro' it is simply sweet, satisfying SOUL. Nat sounds great, too - and with Sam Jones and Louis Hayes, this really is a workshop. Don't misunderstand, there are some 'clams' here; after all, it is a Live Workshop (Timmons plays a monster clam about 8 bars after Nat's solo on "This Here" - and notice how Louis Hayes thinks it's ending when it's not!), but the SPIRIT is unbeatable on this one. One thing - you may want to consider buying the upgraded 'Remastered' CD. The sound, at lower frequencies especially, gets a bit distorted when the levels get hot - and they get hot a lot."

An All-Time Great

Michael B. Richman | Portland, Maine USA | 08/20/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Cannonball Adderley's "In San Francisco" is one of the most exciting, influential and successful live recordings in the history of modern jazz. The all-star band, led by brother Nat on cornet, and the rhythm section of Bobby Timmons, Sam Jones and Louis Hayes, tears through the CD's six tunes (Monk's "Straight, No Chaser is an addition to the original album). The album's best moment is the definitive version of Timmons' "This Here." Don't miss Cannonball in San Fran!"