Cannonball Adderley: An introduction to the alto saxophonist
'Jazz is created to be enjoyed, not understood like you read a blueprint'
Last updated 29th Jun 2020
Cannonball Adderley was one of the great alto saxophonists of the 20th century, earning his stripes in the 1950s and 1960s playing mostly within the hard-bop style.
What was Cannonball Adderley's real name?
Despite having such a iconic nickname Cannonball - Julian Edwin Adderley - earned his name not because of his music but his appetite...
How did Cannonball Adderley become famous?
He went to study in New York taking his saxophone with him to the Café Bohemia in 1955 where he was asked to stand in for the regular guy who was late - the rest is history. Adderley was spotted by the great Miles Davis where he joined another jazz legend John Coltrane in Miles' band.
The saxophonist featured on the recording of two of the greatest jazz albums of all time - 'Milestones' and 'Kind of Blue', whilst Miles appeared on Adderley's own record 'Somethin' Else' - a widely acclaimed album for its straight and uncluttered style.
Who else did Cannonball Adderley work with?
Adderley would go onto play with figures like Yusef Lateef, Bobby Timmons and Charles Lloyd, and is, perhaps, best remembered for his hit soul-jazz tune 'Mercy, Mercy, Mercy'.