This release in a way concludes Cannonball Adderley’s very swift rise from an unknown to recording artist in a matter of weeks during the summer of 1955.

Adderley came to New York initially to work on his graduation, went down to Cafe Bohemia one night for an Oscar Pettiford gig, was asked to lend his horn out but offered to sit in, and blew the room away.

‘Discoveries’ put together the alternate takes from Adderley’s two very first recording session in New York. The first was drummer Kenny Clarke’s ‘Bohemia After Dark’ session about two weeks after his first live appearance, later rebranded and released in Cannonball’s name because of his stature. The second is from Adderley’s debut as a leader from the 14. July 1955, resulting in the album ‘Presenting Cannonball Adderley’

The material on those sessions showcases Adderley’s writing skills as they are all his originals except of course Oscar Pettiford’s superb ‘Bohemia After Dark’, executed by Paul Chambers with a higher tempo but otherwise in the same style as Miles Davis’ ‘So What’. A coincidence? Certainly not.

There’s a ‘live’ feel to these tracks, and that’s why, to me, they sound very fresh, even today. It’s high tempo hard bop, utilised by a tight group of players, The Adderley Brothers, Kenny Clarke and Paul Chambers in particular. Definitely worth acquiring for its historical value.

1. With Apologies to Oscar [Take 1] (Adderley, Adderley) 5:44
2. Bohemia After Dark [Take 1] (Pettiford) 5:45
3. Chasm [Take 3] (Adderley, Adderley) 4:09
4. Late Entry [Take 4] (Adderley, Adderley) 3:15
5. A Little Taste [Take 1] (Adderley, Adderley) 5:00
6. Caribbean Cutie [Take 1] (Adderley) 5:18
7. Spontaneous Combustion [Take 4]  0:39
8. With Apologies to Oscar [Take 2] (Adderley, Adderley) 5:44

Recorded at the Van Gelder Recording Studio, Hackensack, New Jersey on June 28 and July 14, 1955

Cannonball Adderley, Alto Sax
Nat Adderley, Cornet
Donald Byrd, Trumpet (tracks 1-3 & 8)
Jerome Richardson, Tenor Sax, Flute (tracks 1-4 & 8)
Horace Silver, Piano (tracks 1-4 & 8)
Hank Jones, Piano (tracks 5-7)
Kenny Clarke, Drums
Paul Chambers, Bass

I’ve included Bohemia After Dark (take 1) for your listening pleasure!