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Nat Adderley, Jr.

Nat Adderley, Jr. is an American pop and rhythm and blues music arranger and pianist who spent much of his music career arranging as music director for Luther Vandross tours and contributed as co-songwriter on most of Vandross's albums. His father Nat Adderley (1931–2000) was a composer and jazz cornet and trumpet player, while his uncle Cannonball Adderley (1928–1975) was a jazz alto saxophonist.

Nat Adderley, Jr. was born in Quincy, Florida on May 23, 1955. The scion of a famed jazz family, he grew up in Teaneck, New Jersey, moving to that suburban New York City community with his family when he was five years old. He started playing piano as a child and had his first song, "I'm on My Way", recorded by his uncle Cannonball on the 1967 album Why Am I Treated So Bad! by the Cannonball Adderley Quintet when the young Nat Adderley was only 11 years old. It was at the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in New York City that Adderley first met fellow student Luther Vandross, with whom he would later spend much of his musical career. He attended Yale University, graduating with a degree in African American studies.

While living in Houston, Texas, he was the music arranger for the 1981 album Never Too Much which became Vandross's first hit with the title track, which reached number 33 on the Billboard Hot 100 and fourth on the dance charts. He continued working with Vandross, whom he called "a hilarious guy, a great employer, a great friend, and an incredible musician", until the singer's stroke in February 2003 that effectively ended his career.

Adderley has returned to his jazz roots, performing his own works, as well as tributes to both his father and uncle. He cites his influences as Chick Corea, John Coltrane and Thelonious Monk. In a 2009 interview with the Star-Ledger he said pianists "who are killing me" include Kenny Barron, Herbie Hancock, Cedar Walton and Joe Zawinul.

Jay Hoggard: Raise Your Spirit Consciousness

Read "Raise Your Spirit Consciousness" reviewed by La-Faithia White

by La-Faithia White
February 12, 2023

American jazz vibraphonist and composer Jay Hoggard is raising the spiritual consciousness with songs such as “Holy Spirit Consciousness," “Peace To You My Children," “Worship God in Spirit" and “Truth and Love" on Raise Your Spirit Consciousness Raise Your Spirit Consciousness has eight original compositions from Hoggard as well as recreations of original classics by Wayne Shorter, Duke Ellington, Stevie Wonder, and Thad Jones. Hoggard has played with Milt Jackson, Lionel Hampton, and Tito Puente, other vibraphonists throughout ...

Profile

Jazzmobile partners with Minton's Playhouse for synergy of jazz in Harlem, NYC

by Doug Hall
July 22, 2019

A synergy in jazz can mean that band members complement and combine with one another for a greater result. That same concept applies to an exciting summer announcement that kicks-off a new partnership between two renowned and heralded jazz organizations, Jazzmobile and Harlem Jazz Enterprises will team-up with the iconic Minton's Playhouse jazz club, to present live music at this storied venue, in Harlem, New York City. This dynamic partnership will create an open-ended residency at Minton's Playhouse jazz club ...

Recording

Nicolas Bearde's "Invitation," Produced By Nat Adderley Jr., Due January 29

Source: Terri Hinte Publicity
December 17, 2015

Nicolas Bearde is a San Francisco Bay Area treasure. As a charter member of Bobby McFerrin’s Voicestra ensemble as well as the innovative vocal sextet SoVoSó, he’s long been internationally recognized as a versatile and fearless vocal improviser, charismatic performer, and distinctive jazz and soul stylist. While Bearde has drawn on his love for both R&B and jazz on his previous four CDs, Invitation, the singer’s fifth release on his own Right Groove Records label, is his first entirely straight-ahead ...
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Event

Nicolas Bearde and Nat Adderley Jr CD Preview Concert at Yoshi's on September 15th at 8pm

Source: Nicolas Bearde
September 6, 2015

Vocalist Nicolas Bearde And Grammy-Winning Pianist/Composer Nat Adderley Jr. Hit The Jazz Trail Together “Bearde taps into music’s deeper currents, where love, desire and heartache freely intermingle." —Andrew Gilbert, jazz journalist “A powerful musical presence that touched each and every person in the audience." —John Handy About Nicolas Bearde A renowned jazz singer of remarkable depth, range and technique, with a compelling musical style has won acclaim from critics and jazz audiences worldwide. Forged from his Nashville roots, his 1980’s ...
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Performance / Tour

Vocalist Nicolas Bearde & Special Guest Nat Adderley Jr. To Perform At Yoshi's San Francisco, Sept. 13

Source: Terri Hinte Publicity
August 1, 2014

Nicolas Bearde is a San Francisco Bay Area treasure. As a charter member of Bobby McFerrin’s Voicestra ensemble as well as the innovative vocal sextet SoVoSó, he’s long been internationally recognized as a versatile and fearless vocal improviser, charismatic performer, and distinctive jazz and soul stylist. Bearde will bring it all to Yoshi’s San Francisco on Saturday 9/13, in the company of his newest collaborator, the renowned pianist/arranger Nat Adderley Jr. Joining Bearde and Adderley for what’s billed as a ...
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Interview

Born to Swing: Nat Adderley Jr. Returns to His Roots

Source: Michael Ricci
September 13, 2009

Growing up in a major jazz family, the pianist, composer, and arranger Nat Adderley Jr. was destined to be a musician. His father was the powerhouse cornetist and composer Nat Adderley, who was famed for his work with his brother, the legendary alto saxophonist Julian “Cannonball" Adderley. The 54-year-old pianist was born in Quincy, Fla., but grew up in Teaneck from age 5. He began playing the piano soon thereafter. “And I was just 11 when Cannonball and my father ...
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Performance / Tour