Cannonball Adderley - The Black Messiah (2 CD, 1972/FLAC)


A massive live set from Cannonball Adderley – and a record that really shows the growth he'd undergone in just a few short years! The album's done in close collaboration with David Axelrod – who'd handled Cannon's big live dates for Capitol in the 60s – but this record is much more freewheeling, open-ended, fuzz, funky, and electric overall! Tracks are all nice and long, and really trip out in the best way – with keyboards from George Duke in the core group, plus some heavy basslines from Walter Booker, drums from Roy McCurdy, and guitar from Mike Deasy on a number of key tracks.

Deasy plays with lots of great wah wah and fuzz – and the album also features guest work from Airto on percussion and Ernie Watts on tenor – plus Cannonball's great alto and the cornet of brother Nat Adderley too. There's a really collaborative feel to the whole thing – as the record steps easily between a lot of heady styles – and titles include "Zanek", "Eye Of The Cosmos", "The Scene", "The Chocolate Nuisance", "The Steam Drill", "Little Benny Hen", and "The Black Messiah".

Recorded Live at The Troubadour, Los Angeles California in 1971.-



  • Cannonball Adderley - alto & soprano saxophone
  • Nat Adderley - cornet
  • Roy McCurdy - drums
  • Walter Booker - bass
  • George Duke - piano
  • Airto Moreira - percussion

CD1

01 - Introduction
02 - Black Messiah
03 - Monologue
04 - Little Benny Hen
05 - Zanek
06 - Dr. Honouris Causa

CD2

01 - The Chocolate Nuisance
02 - Untitled
03 - The Steam Drill
04 - Eyes Of The Cosmos
05 - Episode From The Music Came
06 - Heritage
07 - Circumference
08 - Pretty Paul
09 - The Scene