Cannonball Adderley with Bill Evans - Know What I Mean

Personnel: Cannonball Adderley(alto saxophone), Bill Evans(piano), Percy Heath(bass), Connie Kay(drums)

When I first came upon this record, I was very intrigued. It isn't so often that you see two musicians paired together whose styles differ so greatly. On one hand, you will be hard pressed to find another saxophonist who is as visceral and jubilant as Cannonball Adderley; and on the other, you will have just as difficult a time searching for a pianist with such a delicate and moody style as Bill Evans. Despite their differences, this recording shapes up to be very enjoyable and very coherent, which in all honesty should come as no surprise, considering the caliber of these two musicians. Joining these two masters are Percy Heath and Connie Kay, the bassist and drummer, respectively, of the perennially brilliant and sophisticated Modern Jazz Quartet. While Scott LaFaro's presence on bass has been sorely missed on any and every Bill Evans recording after his tragic death in 1960, and Paul Motian, Bill Evans' usual drummer during the time, is not present in these recordings, Percy Heath and Connie Kay do as good of a job as anyone possibly could replacing them. Excellent album.