Cannonball Adderley | Alabama Concerto

Alabama Concerto is an album by composer John Benson Brooks featuring saxophonist Cannonball Adderley and trumpeter Art Farmer; it was released on the Riverside label in 1958.^[1] For Brooks, it was "an outgrowth of an assignment he had [...] to transcribe for a book some folk recordings made in Alabama by Harold Courlander"; these contrasted with New Orleans jazz recordings, causing Brooks to consider an alternative influence on the history of jazz.^[2]: 45

Critic John S. Wilson, in a contemporaneous review, observed of the composer: "Working from several rural folk themes, he develops his Concerto through ensembles, written solos and improvised solos played by a quartet".^[2]: 45 Concluding in a negative vein, Wilson stated that the album "lacks movement and explicit development [...] the work becomes lost in monotony long before the two full LP sides have been completed."^[2]: 46 The Allmusic site awarded the album 3 stars with the review by Scott Yanow stating, "Although not essential, the music is thought-provoking, quite melodic, and looks backwards toward folk music of the 1800s while giving the pieces a 1950s jazz sensibility".^[3]

1.  Yanow, S. Allmusic Review   

Cannonball Adderley  

Alabama Concerto       

All compositions by John Benson Brooks

1. First Movement: THEMES: "The Henry John Story" / "Green, Green Rocky Road" / "Job's Red Wagon" - 4:49
2. First Movement: "The Henry John Story (return)" / "Green, Green Rocky Road (return)" - 3:17
3. First Movement: "Job's Red Wagon (return)" - 3:07
4. Second Movement: THEMES: "Trampin'" / "The Loop" / "Trampin' (return)" - 7:54
5. Second Movement: "The Loop (return)" - 2:25
6. Third Movement: THEME: "Little John Shoes" - 3:09
7. Third Movement: THEME: "Milord's Calling" / "Little John Shoes (return)" / "Milord's Callin' (return)" - 5:06
8. Fourth Movement: THEMES: "Blues for Christmas" / "Rufus Playboy" / "Grandma's Coffin" / "Blues for Christmas (return)" - 7:33
9. Fourth Movement: "Grandma's Coffin (return)" / "Rufus Playboy (return)" / "Grandma's Coffin (2nd return)" - 5:07

• John Benson Brooks - piano, arranger
•  - alto saxophone
• Art Farmer - trumpet
• Barry Galbraith - guitar
• Milt Hinton - bass