The Jazz Icons DVD series has proven itself time and again as an indispensable resource for serious jazz fans, as well as for newcomers to the genre. Jazz Icons: Cannonball Adderley Live In '63 is no exception, providing 99 minutes of classic performance footage. Two sets are featured, filmed within days of each other in March of 1963, capturing the Cannonball Adderley Sextet in their prime. Julian "Cannonball" Adderley was a highly respected and celebrated alto saxophonist. His style was easily accessible, making it an ideal entry point for those new to jazz. The very entertaining concerts found on this DVD have a strong emphasis on fun, groove-oriented music.
The first set was filmed in Switzerland for a television show called Jazz Stars. While it was heavily edited for broadcast, the entire 71-minute concert is presented here for the first time. Cannonball is joined by his brother Nat Adderley on cornet, Yusef Lateef on several instruments, Joe Zawinul on piano, Sam Jones on bass, and Louis Hayes on drums. This performance was filmed in a concert hall with a live audience. Quincy Jones' "Jessica's Day" kicks things off, featuring solos from all three horn players. Lateef plays tenor sax for now. It is an exuberant start to the show.
Lateef switches to flute for what becomes a showcase for him, the lovely ballad "Angel Eyes." His tasteful solo is rather sedate, but carefully executed. Zawinul contributes an equally well-crafted piano solo. The tempo quickens for the next number, the funky mid-tempo "Jive Samba," written by Nat Adderley. This is ten minutes of pure musical fun, with Cannonball's growling and grooving solo a bluesy highlight. Nat blows up a storm on his cornet before Lateef steps in to take things a bit farther out. Sticking with flute, he musters some cool effects – overblowing and vocalizing through the instrument. "Jive Samba" is almost pop-oriented, with a very catchy melody.
"Bohemia After Dark" follows, and it's a barn-burner. After the frantic head, Cannonball offers a fairly brief solo. Nat's solo includes a neat quote of "Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing." Lateef, back to tenor this time, seems to have little in the way of ideas. His solo is quite short and not very interesting. The real star of this number is drummer Louis Hayes, who literally works up a sweat during a lengthy solo. He makes the most of what is his only extended solo during the entire show.
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