Cannonball Adderley Quintet "Mercy Mercy Mercy"

Julian Edwin "Cannonball" Adderley (September 15, 1928 August 8, 1975), was a jazz alto saxophonist of the small combo era of the 1950s and 1960s. Originally from Tampa, Florida, he moved to New York in the mid 1950s.
He was the brother of jazz cornetist Nat Adderley.
Songs made famous by Adderley and his bands include "This Here" (written by Bobby Timmons), "The Jive Samba," "Work Song" (written by Nat Adderley), "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" (written by Joe Zawinul) and "Walk Tall" (written by Zawinul, Marrow and Rein). A cover version of Pops Staples' "Why (Am I Treated So Bad)?" also entered the charts.
Adderley died of a stroke in 1975. He was buried in the Southside Cemetery, Tallahassee, Florida. Later that year he was inducted into the Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame.

Joe Zawinul's composition "Cannon Ball" (recorded on Weather Report's album Black Market) is a tribute to his former leader.

Adderley was a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America Incorporated (Xi Omega, Frostburg State University, '70), the largest and oldest secret society in music and Alpha Phi Alpha, the oldest existing intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for African Americans (made Beta Nu chapter, Florida A&M University).

"Live at 'The Club'" boasts the cover of this 1966 album. Of course, this turned out to be a lie, as did the entirety of the original liner notes. Mercy, Mercy, Mercy was not recorded at that Chicago venue, but instead at Capitol Studios in Los Angeles. (The ruse was a favor to the club owner.) The hollering audience was comprised of invited guests and stimulated by free booze. Still, their enthusiasm is definitely well warranted, as alto man Cannonball Adderley and his band offer a riveting blend of postbop calisthenics and soul-jazz grooves. Joe Zawinul's famous title track, with its hypnotic, gospel-drenched funkiness, was a crossover top 10 pop hit, as well as an astonishing exercise in restraint for Zawinul, who somehow resists the urge to dig in on his electric piano, instead opting for a deep, mellow mood. The rest of the album cooks, with Cannonball, brother Nat on cornet, and Zawinul supplying the heat.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Cannonball
• Adderley
• Mercy Mercy Mercy
• Joe
• Zawinul
• Jazz
• Live at 'The Club'
• High
• Quality

[Soon2Busmc]

Music is what feelings sound like

[778968]

makes me happy

[katztailzz]

wow... um... Amazing... so... BEAUTIFUL!!!

[MrBillc1023]

When it first came out I didn't like it. I thought it was soft...but it grew on me. Yeah, I have to admit, one of the all time funkiest horn pieces ever made. I think this song was also important for introducing Zawinul to the world. Thanks!

[zanziblaque]

recorded many yars ago but so uptodate.. .. ..

[tcidolfan]

I don't know which versioin I like better, Cannonball's or Buckinghams'!! I love BOTH versions!!!

[NateLeichtman]

Mercí Mercí Mercí... It's a french song originally!

As in "thank you thank you thank you Mr Adderly for making my day that much better!"

[rtt671]

@jimsandaju... Cannonball & company blessed us with so many gems! Oh and Hafa Adai (hello) from Guam!

[GrtSebba]

3 peoples have serious problems.

[LadyMargarettt]

genialne! :) 

[Erin38732]

would do anything to see this kind of talent live

[jimsandaju]

During the 60's I played sax with several bands from Montreal to Thailand, Guam to New York. In Plattsburgh, New York, I played with a coronet player we called Rudy. Mercy, Mercy, Mercy was our top request and though the entire band loved playing it, Rudy and I held it in our hearts! Joe Zawinul charted a masterpiece with this song. No other group has been able to even come close to the richness and out right musical genius afforded this song by Cannonball & company. It's all about the music!!!