George Shearing & Cannonball Adderley - The George Shearing / Cannonball Adderley Quintets At Newport

2002 CD collection.

Though each works his magic in a five-piece setting, these two jazz giants highlight the differences in their approaches on these live tracks. The aggressive flair of Nat Adderley's trumpet and the churchy element injected in the solos and background fills by pianist Junior Mance complement the saxophonist's constricted tone and urgent, soulful phrasing. In contrast, Shearing's group breezes rather than burns, with occasional moments, such as the merger of "It Never Entered My Mind" and a Satie motif, that feel oddly quaint, if not downright precious.

When the Adderley brothers sit in on "Soul Station," however, the two styles lock together, and it becomes a joy as Shearing's buoyant rhythm and dense harmonies feed their choruses. Hearing him lapse into an early version of jazz montuño on the last two tracks is a more subdued delight. Moments like these, when artists kicked back and blew for the sheer fun of it, linger longest in memories of Newport and other jazz summits.

Robert L. Doerschuk ~~ AllMusicGuide