Cannonball: Somethin’ Else
Explore the Iconic Album: Cannonball Adderley – Somethin’ Else
Album Overview
Cannonball Adderley’s Somethin’ Else — A Timeless Blue Note Jazz Classic
What happens when you bring Cannonball Adderley and Miles Davis together with an outstanding rhythm section? You get Somethin’ Else—and a place on my desert island list.
Hi, I’m Glen Bell, and today I’m sharing another of my favorite albums from the desert island picks on my website, Bay Area Jazz Lines.
Recorded in nineteen fifty-eight for Blue Note, Somethin’ Else features Cannonball on alto saxophone, Miles Davis on trumpet, Hank Jones on piano, Sam Jones on bass, and Art Blakey on drums.
At the time, Cannonball was a member of Miles’s band. Here, Miles joins a recording under Cannonball’s name, giving us a chance to hear their musical partnership in a different setting.
The opening track, “Autumn Leaves,” is a wonderful introduction. An extended, mysterious opening sets the mood before Miles brings in the familiar melody. His muted trumpet has a spare, intimate quality, and when Cannonball enters, his flowing lines bring another kind of warmth and energy.
That combination is a big part of this album’s appeal. Their sounds are distinctive, and hearing them together gives you plenty to enjoy.
Listen, too, to Hank Jones’s piano and the support from Sam Jones and Art Blakey. They give the soloists a foundation that feels relaxed and assured, with a swing that keeps the music moving.
“Love for Sale” brings a lively change of pace, while the title track features a playful exchange between trumpet and saxophone. Across the album, there’s a balance of blues feeling, memorable melodies, and inventive playing.
Somethin’ Else is one of my desert island picks because it offers so much to enjoy, whether you’re discovering jazz or have been listening for years.
Visit Bay Area Jazz Lines to explore the rest of my desert island list, along with playlists and the Bay Area jazz scene.
What’s an album you’d never want to be without?
My Personal Favorite: Dancing in the Dark
Cannonball Adderley
Track List — Somethin’ Else
“Autumn Leaves”
“Love for Sale”
“Somethin’ Else”
“One for Daddy-O”
“Dancing in the Dark”
“Bangoon (aka Alison’s Uncle)”
Musicians
Cannonball Adderley — alto saxophone
Miles Davis — trumpet
Hank Jones — piano
Sam Jones — bass
Art Blakey — drums
Where do I go after Somethin’ Else?
1. Cannonball Adderley Quintet in Chicago (1959)
Recorded just months after Somethin’ Else, this session reunites much of the same cast, including Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers, and Jimmy Cobb.
Why you’ll love it: It feels like a spiritual sequel to Somethin’ Else.
2. Know What I Mean? (1961)
A brilliant collaboration with Bill Evans.
Why you’ll love it: The same elegant, melodic approach and sophisticated harmonic interplay found on Somethin’ Else.
3. Them Dirty Blues (1960)
One of Cannonball’s most soulful recordings, featuring blues-infused hard bop at its finest.
Why you’ll love it: If you enjoy Cannonball’s earthy, bluesy side, this is essential.
4. Mercy, Mercy, Mercy! Live at ‘The Club’ (1966)
The album that brought Cannonball widespread popularity and produced his signature hit.
Why you’ll love it: Infectious groove, soul-jazz energy, and Cannonball’s charismatic leadership.
5. Cannonball Takes Charge (1959)
A hard-swinging quintet date that showcases Cannonball’s exuberant alto saxophone style.
Why you’ll love it: More of the joyful, melodic improvisation heard on Somethin’ Else.