Cannonball Adderley - 1972 - Soul Zodiac

Cannonball Adderley

1972

Soul Zodiac

01. Introduction 3:00

02. Aries 4:52

03. Libra 3:15

04. Capricorn 6:10

05. Aquarius 7:47

06. Pisces 3:53

07. Sagittarius 5:15

08. Gemini 4:35

09. Leo 2:51

10. Virgo 4:10

11. Scorpio 4:23

12. Cancer 2:45

13. Taurus 13:52

Alto Saxophone – Cannonball Adderley (tracks: A2)

Cornet – Nat Adderley

Double Bass, Guitar – Walter Booker

Drums – Roy McCurdy

Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes] – George Duke

Guitar – Mike Deasy

Narrator – Rick Holmes

Painting [Body Painting] – Abe Gurvin

Producer – David Axelrod

Soprano Saxophone – Cannonball Adderley (tracks: A3)

Tenor Saxophone, Flute, Tambourine – Ernie Watts

Liner Notes:

ASTROLOGY, the study of the signs of the Zodiac. How does one rationalize an development with astrological significance? RICK HOLMES, the creator of the narrative indigenous to the artistic creativeness formed in this recording, is a person whose day-to-day behavioral continuity by his own concepts of the influence of the activities of astrological movement. Mr. Holmes, well known in the greater Los Angeles area, is a radio personality who is recognised by various people who have the priviledge of being exposed to "RICK'S FAMILY AFFAIR" aired nightly on radio station KBCA-FM. (One of the most important outlets for Jazz and other musical expression, including sophisticated rhetoric, in Southern California.) Devoted listeners to Rick's program are well aware of his expertise with regards to astrology. This recording marks the first effort to broaden any interested audience or to enhance the awareness with regards to astrology or to enhance the awareness of people to whom the soulful exhortations of Rick have never been available.

Cannonball Adderley

A few seconds of spacy echo loops and you know where this album is coming from -- the early jazz/rock era, the Age of Aquarius and all that. Yet this crazy amalgam of jazz, rock, electronics, and spoken astrological advice by the popular Los Angeles DJ Rick Holmes actually works, for the music behind the soulfully intoned words is very inventive and Holmes plays effectively off its rhythms. Basically this is the Cannonball Adderley group (Nat, cornet; George Duke, electric piano; Walter Booker, bass; Roy McCurdy, drums), with the young eloquent Ernie Watts sitting in for Cannonball (who appears only on "Libra" and "Aries") on tenor and flute, and Mike Deasy contributing wild psychedelic guitar at times. Indeed Nat seems like just the nominal leader of the session -- Cannonball actually gets top billing as co-producer -- though he plays spiritedly at all times. The music is very eclectic, ranging from mainstream jazz to free-form freak-outs and even hilarious heavy metal rock on the stomping 14-minute "Taurus." Actually these were expansions of the directions the Adderley group was exploring at the time, and one wonders how they determined the idiom for each sign. Whether or not you accept astrology, this double set is a lot of fun.

One of the coolest, baddest, funkiest albums Cannonball Adderley ever recorded -- a massive suite of tunes based on the signs of the Zodiac, produced to perfection by David Axelrod, and featuring some hip recitations from the mighty Rick Holmes! The double-length set is completely compelling all the way through -- a darkly brooding batch of funky jazz that shows a strong Miles Davis electric influence at points, thanks to Nat Adderley's spacey trumpet lines, Mike Deasy's trippy guitar, and George Duke's excellent keyboards! Other tracks are a bit more laidback, fitting the mood of their respective signs -- and overall, the whole thing slips and slides wonderfully from cut to cut -- taking you through the star signs with a really righteous, soulful approach.