Jim Snidero & Jeremy Pelt: Jubilation! Celebrating Cannonball Adderley

Jim Snidero and Jeremy Pelt celebrate the late, great alto saxophonist Cannonball Adderley. On this release, the band pays homage to the artist's classic quintet, as Pelt's meaty tone rekindles the aura of trumpeter Nat Adderley. The tunes—largely composed by Julian or Nat—capture a portion of the original quintet's setlist, with the festivities enriched by Snidero and Pelt's personal imprints.

Pelt and Snidero each contribute a piece that morphs into the Adderley legacy and soundscape, as the musicians's lyrical choruses parlay his legacy with jubilance. On "Del Sasser," the quintet executes a spry bop groove, where the primary melody is an underlying foundation for the improvisational element. Here, the horn players's singing lines do justice to the memorable hook.

The ensemble renders a gorgeous ballad on the beloved standard "Stars Fell on Alabama," as they strike a delicate balance that encompasses joy and lament. However, "Sack O' Woe" is a straightforward reading of this timeless work, revved up by buoyant interplay and the frontline's high-flying solos. But any Adderley tribute would be incomplete if the radio-friendly "Work Song" was not in the mix, as drummer Billy Drummond gets the party started with a polyrhythmic tirade, leading to an up-tempo groove and the memorable theme amid Snidero and Pelt's spirited statements. The soloists raise the pitch and contrast their hearty mode of attack with tension and release ploys. Overall, the musicians' sing Adderley's praises with an engrossing impetus that translates into a true celebration and appreciation of his iconic musicality and immeasurable technical gifts.