Cannonball Funk’n Friends is an album by jazz pianist Roberto Magris released on the JMood label in 2013, featuring performances by the Roberto Magris Quintet with Hermon Mehari, Jim Mair, Dominique Sanders and Alonzo "Scooter" Powell. The album is a tribute to saxophonist Cannonball Adderley and his jazz-funk and soul jazz bands.
Reception
The All About Jazz review by Jack Bowers awarded the album 3½ stars and simply states: "In choosing music for the quintet, Magris focused on 'the groovy side' of Cannonball Adderley's songbook. The mood is cheeky and aggressive from start to finish, and everyone plays well within that framework. What the album does not have, of course, is either of the Adderley brothers, and so it is missing the deep-rooted ebullience they would bring to any such enterprise. Aside from that, an astute and listenable session."
Track listing Jeannine (Duke Pearson) – 9:45 Blue Daniel (Frank Rosolino) – 5:34 Sticks (Julian "Cannonball" Adderley) – 7:17 Saudade (Walter Booker) – 8:22 Bohemia After Dark (Oscar Pettiford) – 5:32 Keep Headed in the Right Direction (Roberto Magris) – 8:13 Arriving Soon (Eddie Vinson) – 8:12 Outback Special (Roberto Magris) – 8:37 Audio Liner Notes – 3:48
Personnel Musicians Hermon Mehari – trumpet, cornet Jim Mair – alto sax Roberto Magris - piano, Hammond organ Dominique Sanders - electric bass Alonzo “Scooter” Powell - drums
Production Paul Collins – executive producer and producer George Hunt – engineering Stephen Bocioaca – design Jerry Lockett and Naima Magris – photography
References