Nat Adderley Live at the 1994 Floating Jazz Festival (2-CD)

Personnel: Nat Adderley (cornet); Vincent Herring (alto saxophone); Rob Bargad (piano); Walter Booker (bass); Jimmy Cobb (drums).

Recorded live at the Floating Jazz Festival, S/S Norway, Caribbean Sea on October 25 & 27, 1994. Includes liner notes by Nat Adderley and Paul Bacon.

Nat Adderley and his quintet (with altoist Vincent Herring, pianist Rob Bargad, bassist Walter Booker and drummer Jimmy Cobb) are heard on this double-CD in particularly fine form playing eight lengthy selections; all but "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" are over nine minutes long. Herring often takes solo honors, the rhythm section (which includes two survivors from the Cannonball Adderley days plus young pianist Bargad) is excellent and Nat's chops are in better than usual shape. The music overall is very much in the tradition of Cannonball's quintet. But actually the main reason to acquire this set is for Nat's storytelling; there are 38 minutes of talking in addition to the 84 minutes of music. Nat's monologues between songs have been left intact and he talks about the origin of the title of Sam Jones' "Unit Seven," the reason why "Work Song" is his favortite tune and some other interesting tales. Adderley (who competes well with his late brother Cannonball at contributing intelligent commentary) also is heard on the closing "Jazzspeak" (which clocks in at 13:44) remembering a humorous but important lesson that he learned from Cannonball. Recommended. ~ Scott Yanow