Walk Tall: The Music and Life of Julian Cannonball Adderley

Cannonball Adderley introduced his 1967 recording of 'Walk Tall' by saying, 'There are times when things don't lay the way they're supposed to lay. But regardless, you're supposed to hold your head up high and walk tall.' This sentiment perfectly encapsulates the life of Julian 'Cannonball' Adderley, a man who employed a colossal alto saxophone technique, profound pride in his heritage, dedication to educating youngsters, and an insatiable musical curiosity to bridge the divide between jazz and popular music throughout the 1960s and '70s.

His career began in 1955 with a Cinderella-like cameo in a New York nightclub, which led the jazz world to regard him as the 'New Bird,' successor to the late Charlie Parker. However, Adderley refused to be typecast. While his work with Miles Davis on the landmark Kind of Blue album further cemented his reputation as a unique stylist, Adderley's greatest fame arrived with his own quintet's breakthrough engagement at San Francisco's Jazz Workshop in 1959. This performance effectively launched the popularisation of soul jazz in the 1960s. With his loyal brother Nat by his side, along with stellar sidemen such as keyboardist Joe Zawinul, Adderley leveraged an engaging, erudite personality in a way only Duke Ellington had managed before him. All these aspects and more are vividly captured in this engaging read by author Cary Ginell.