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Cannonball Adderley: Domination
ByThe Nelson-arranged Domination tracks are a mixed bag. A large part of Nelson's gift was his ability to give new and and surprising makeovers to well-known jazz, pop, and movie themes. Yet none of the eight tunes here were well known in '65, and they remain obscure today. Only Cannonball's "Introduction To A Samba" and Ray Bryant's "Shake A Lady" made it, briefly, into the touring band's book. Nelson's arrangements are typically full-on and gutsy, but they lack the genius shock-of-the-new of his Jimmy Smith sessions. That said, there's some strong soloing from the two brothers, and Cole Porter's "I Worship You" is grand, with lovely solos from Cannonball and Zawinul, the pianist's only one on the album.
All this serves as an enjoyable enough curtain raiser to "Experience In E," originally released as part of the LP Cannonball Adderley Quintet & Orchestra. Cannonball first performed the five-part suite in '69, a few weeks before Zawinul went into the studio with Miles for the In A Silent Way sessions.
Brooding and intense, "Experience In E" is close in concept to early Weather Report, with motifs and broken riffs replacing conventional chord progressions. Cannonball is the featured soloist on parts one and two, Nat is featured on three, and Zawinul on four. All three men play more (Zawinul) or less (the Adderleys) impressionistic solos over Fischer's abstract orchestral backdrops. A gritty, vocalised Cannonball is great on the shades-of-Zulu second section, as is Nat on the Spanish-tinged third. Zawinul's feature is deliciously "Shhh/Peaceful." The fifth and closing section is a more conventional big band romp.
In short, a curio for Cannonball fans, but something of more substantial interest to those interested in Zawinul's trajectory.
Track Listing
Domination; Cyclops; Introduction To A Samba; Shake A Lady; Interlude; Mystified (aka Angel Face); I Worship You; Gon Gong; Experience In E.
Personnel
Cannonball Adderley
saxophoneTracks 1-8: Cannonball Adderley: alto saxophone; Nat Adderley: cornet, trumpet; Jimmy Maxwell, Jimmy Nottingham, Clark Terry, Snooky Young: trumpets; Jimmy Cleveland, Willie Dennis, J.J. Johnson: trombones; Don Butterfield: tuba; Marshal Royal, Phil Woods: alto saxophones; Budd Johnson: tenor saxophone, clarinet, flute; Bob Ashton: tenor saxophone, bass clarinet, flute; Danny Bank: baritone saxophone, bass clarinet, flute; Joe Zawinul: piano; Richard Davis (1,2,7,8), Sam Jones (3-6): bass; Grady Tate (1,2,7,8), Louis Hayes (3-6): drums; unknown percussion (3,4,6). Arranged & conducted by Oliver Nelson. Track 9: Cannonball Adderley: alto saxophone; Nat Adderley: cornet; Joe Zawinul: electric piano; Walter Booker: bass; Roy McCurdy: drums; 42-piece orchestra. Arranged & conducted by William Fischer.
Album information
Title: Domination | Year Released: 2005 | Record Label: Capitol Records