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"Cannonball"
Adderley Suite By Cecil Bridgewater
A Musical Celebration! |
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Julian Edward "Cannonball" Adderley |
Saxophonist/Composer/Bandleader/Educator |
"Cannonball" Adderley Suite by Cecil Bridgewater. Commissioned
through a grant from Meet The Composer and first premiered February 1994 in Los Angeles
then performed March 1996 in Washington, D.C. , May 1996 at the Atlanta Jazz Festival and
September 1996 in Springfield, Mass. Written for standard big band - 5 saxophones
(doubling on flutes and clarinets), 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, piano, bass, drums and
featured soloists, Antonio Hart
on alto and Vanessa Rubin on vocals.
The work includes original compositions and those closely associated with Mr.
Adderley:
 | Overture |
| Bird To Ball |
| Cannon's Samba |
| Old Country -- vocal |
| The Masquerade Is Over -- vocal |
| I Think I'll Try Love Again -- vocal |
| Never Will I Marry -- vocal |
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| Sleepin' Bee -- vocal |
| Since I Fell For You - vocal |
| Nippon Soul |
| Sticks |
| Hi Fly |
| Work Song |
| Unit 7 |
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The Washington Post
Tuesday, March 12, 1996
Saluting the late saxophonist Julian
"Cannonball" Adderley at Lisner Auditorium Saturday night, trumpeter and
composer Cecil Bridgewater relied on a mixture of surefire talent and promising newcomers.
The familiar names in the lineup included alto saxophonist Antonio
Hart, who projected an earthy, Adderley-like tone and contributed the evening's most
compelling solo, on "Nippon Soul," and singer Vanessa Rubin, who recalled Nancy
Wilson's collaborations with Adderley in ways that were more affecting than derivative,
Sir Roland Hanna's piano solos were unfailingly colorful, thoughtful and complementary.
As for Bridgewater, when paired with Hart he conjured memories of Adderley's
association with his brother, cornetist Nat Adderley, and also contributed several
original pieces to the program. Particularly lovely and fitting was "Cannon's
Samba," neatly propelled by bassist Tyrone Brown and drummer Lenny Robinson.
Bridgewater was also successful in recalling Adderley's generosity of
spirit and his desire that the jazz torch be passed from one generation to the next.
The second half of the concert was largely devoted to Bridgewater's "Cannonball
Adderley Suite," and featured a jazz orchestra of young musicians form the Washington
area. As each member of the reed and brass sections soloed on "Bird to
Ball" and "Work Song," and smiles beamed from everywhere on stage, it was
hard not to think of Adderley shouting his approval.
-Mike Joyce
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CECIL BRIDGEWATER - TRUMPET
Trumpeter/Composer/Conductor/Producer, received a commission from Meet The
Composer to write a work in dedication to Mr. Julian "Cannonball" Adderley.
Cecil has written for and performed with such musical luminaries as Horace Silver,
Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, Max Roach, Lena Horne, The Duke Ellington Orchestra, The
Count Basie Orchestra and Joe Henderson to name a few. His most recent CD entitled
"Mean What You Say,"
on the Brownstone label, exhibits his writing, performing and producing skills. He
received a 1998 Grammy Nomination for one of his arrangements on the CD entitled, "Dear
Ella" by Dee Dee Bridgewater, Verve
Records
VANESSA RUBIN - VOCALIST
Vocalist/Composer/Lyricist/Producer, has recorded several albums for the
RCA/NOVUS label, her most recent is "New Horizons," all of
which have received critical acclaim. She brings to this project her extraordinary
sense of phrasing and her ability to deliver a unique reading of the lyrics of the
original compositions and those that were recorded by Nancy Wilson with the
"Cannonball" Adderley Quintet. To learn more about Vanessa, visit her website at
Vanessa Rubin.
ANTONIO HART - ALTO SAXOPHONE
Saxophonist/Composer/Producer, has recorded several albums for the
RCA/NOVUS and IMPULSE labels under his own name. His CD, "For Cannon And
Woody," is in part a dedication to "Cannonball" Adderley in which
he demonstrates the fire, dedication and spirit that was a trademark of Mr. Adderley's
performances. Antonio received a 1998 Grammy Nomination for his CD
entitled, "Here I Stand" on the IMPULSE label.
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