I remember a few years back, when the discussion was, The Best Jazz LP of all time. The contenders were 'KOB' and 'Something Else'. Miles and Cannonball play on both LPs.
If not Cannonball on KOB, then who?
Cheers
Jazz for aficionados
Well frog, rok beat me to it but the answer seemed pretty obvious. Interesting about personal perspectives as always. KOB does convey a sense of mystery for me as well, but rather than melancholy I get a feeling of reflection. The word melancholy I relate to sadness while reflection is more of a sense of realization. Just the same, a very interesting point about Cannonball’s nature not fitting the mold feeling of the album, yet his contributions are (for me) indispensable. In all these years of listening I never ask myself about a change in Miles’ line up. ;^) Considering Cannonball’s personality, he always seemed to me to find the fun in whatever music he played. Even a song with dour implications in the title like "Sack O Woe" may still be bluesy but not down - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6rU-4za3EQ |
Good question, Rok. The one that always come to mind and my other favorite alto player, Charlie Mariano, but probably not enough of a star around the time KOB was recorded: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=B-WOZA-sIJo https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5tqN5R0h-0o https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Zd-THvFsTbE Great comments, pryso and I don’t disagree; and “reflection” is a better description. Still....sometimes Cannonball’s “perkiness” seems a bit out of place for me. |
If not Cannonball, maybe a young Joe Henderson or a Sonny Rollins. In either case I don't believe neither would of made KOB the album it is today. Cannonball worked extremely well with Coltrane, with their ability to exchange improvisational harmonic blows along with the mastery of Miles made KOB revered as the GOAT of jazz music. Cheers |
I agree with Pryso. I didn't pick Cannonball because of his playing on KOB, but because of my perception of his personality. He was the odd guy out. Miles was full of himself. Didn't care if his audience 'got it' or not. Thought he was the Lord's gift to Jazz. Brilliant. Same could be said of Trane. Of course this is pre-Sinbad and Space travel to Stellar Regions. Cannonball was the opposite. Check out how he often gave a verbal introduction to his tunes. He wanted his audience to be involved. Had a lot of the Southern church in him. You could find his music on Juke Boxes. Brilliant. Cheers |