The Atlantic Jazz series continues with this slice of mostly '60s jazz-soul treats. Fittingly, the 11-track disc includes a side by one of the prime progenitors of soul, Ray Charles: He and MJQ vibraphonist, Milt Jackson, stretch out on the canonized "How Long Blues." Further expounding on the soul-jazz trajectory, the collection spotlights work by organist Shirley Scott (the Aretha Franklin hit "Think"), Les McCann and Eddie Harris (their classic Montreux Festival cut "Compared to What"), Yusef Lateef ("Russell and Elliot"), and Hank Crawford ("You're the One"). And there's even a bit of boogaloo-enhanced bossa, compliments of trumpeter Nat Adderley ("Jive Samba"). The soundtrack to your next retro-cool shindig.

Avid Jazz here presents four classic Nat Adderley albums including original LP liner notes on a finely re-mastered double CD. “That’s Nat”, “Introducing Nat Adderley”, “To The Ivy League” and “Much Brass”.
Our first album “That’s Nat” features an exciting, swinging set where Nat is joined by Jerome Richardson on tenor and flute, Kenny Clarke on drums, Hank Jones on piano and Wendell Marshall on bass. For “Introducing Nat Adderley” Nat is joined by big brother Julian “Cannonball” Adderley on alto sax, Horace Silver on piano, Roy Haynes on drums and Paul Chambers on bass- that’s some line up folks! All but one selection was written by the Adderley brothers…

This '83 live set at the Keystone Korner was certainly an uneven, sometimes curious event. The opening number is a solo alto workout for Sonny Fortune, who seems to amble through midway before he becomes recharged by the end. The last track, "Tallahassee Kid," fades out early and Adderley provides a run-down of band personnel until the disc ends. There are some fine cuts with punchy, snappy melodies, taut solos, and nice rhythm section interaction between pianist Larry Willis, drummer Jimmy Cobb and bassist Walter Booker.

The great alto sax player Julian "Cannonball" Adderley and his cornet player brother Nat first recorded together for Savoy in 1955. And it is those "Summer of '55" sessions that form the basis of this double cd collection.
The Adderley Brothers went on to produce the massively popular jazz hits "Mercy Mery" and "World Song" plus classic albums such as "Nippon Soul". "Cannonball" Adderley developed a considerable career as an alto player in his own right, and his abilities as a player are quite clearly demonstrated on this double cd of mid-fifties recordings. He later went on to record albums under his own name with the pianist Bill Evans and of course "Kind of Blue". This Miles Davis album now ranks as the best selling jazz album of all time, and "Cannonball's" contribution to its success is legendary…

Considering how late this was recorded in Nat Adderley's career, the cornetist sounds in surprisingly fine form throughout the sessions. There are individual features for altoist Antonio Hart (who ranges from Tranish on "Rwanda" to playing in a more Cannonball Adderley-oriented style on the older tunes) and the McCoy Tyner-inspired pianist Rob Bargad, so Adderley (who is showcased on "You Don't Know What Love Is") has opportunities to rest his chops. Among the other highlights are "Sermonette," "My Romance," and "Unit Seven."

This lesser-known set by Nat Adderley teams the likable cornetist with either Jim Hall or Kenny Burrell on guitar and the Junior Mance Trio (which consists of pianist Mance, bassist Bob Cranshaw and drummer Mickey Roker). Nat wrote all eight selections and, even though none would catch on (a la "Work Song"), several of the numbers are quite memorable and are deserving of revival. "Loneliness" sounds properly desolate, "Roses for Your Pillow" is a superior ballad and most of the other songs are filled with joy, including "El Chico," "Half-Time" and "Broadway Lady." A fine obscurity recorded at a time when Nat was one of the stars of his brother Cannonball Adderley's Sextet.