Julian Cannonball Adderley | And Strings

AllMusic Review by Stewart Mason

The "and Strings" album is one of the biggest clichés of '50s jazz. The idea of taking a prominent jazz soloist and placing him in an orchestral context usually doesn't work as jazz and often doesn't cut it as mood music, either. Julian Cannonball Adderley and Strings suffers a bit in terms of song selection -- "Surrey With a Fringe on Top" and "Polka Dots and Moonbeams (Around a Pug-Nosed Dream)" are a little on the corny side -- but Adderley himself plays beautifully, showing off his typically excellent soloing throughout, and Bill Russo's orchestral arrangements are less invasive than similar arrangements for other "and Strings" albums, more Gil Evans than Mantovani. The opening "I Cover the Waterfront" is a stellar kickoff, a smoky ballad perfect for Adderley's soulful style, but barring a few minor missteps, all of Julian Cannonball Adderley and Strings is well worth hearing.

Cannonball Adderley alto saxophone Richard Hayman musical director Bill Russo arranger Unidentified Strings

"I Cover the Waterfront" - 2:27 "A Foggy Day" - 2:42 "The Surrey With the Fringe on Top" - 2:33 "Two Sleepy People" - 3:01 "I'll Never Stop Loving You" - 2:41 "(I'm Afraid) The Masquerade Is Over" - 3:11 "I've Never Been in Love Before" - 2:20 "Lonely Dreams" - 2:30 "Falling in Love With Love" - 2:33 "Street of Dreams" - 2:14 "Polka Dots and Moonbeams" - 3:04 "You Are Too Beautiful" - 2:55

Recorded - New York City on October 27 (# 9-12) & October 28 (# 1-8), 1955