Cannonball Adderley with Bill Evans - Know What I Mean? (1961) [2001 K2 Remaster]

Possibly the best of Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's many releases, 1961's Know What I Mean? finds the alto saxophonist in a different setting. Usually found fronting hard-bop combos featuring his brother Nat on cornet, Adderley is here accompanied by pianist Bill Evans, bassist Percy Heath, and Modern Jazz Quartet drummer Connie Kay. In these more placid surroundings, Adderley showcases an entirely different side to his playing.

Accompanied by Evans' impressionistic, watery piano and Kay's low-key drums, Adderley's lines are lighter and more peaceful than his usual bluesy tone. The opening "Waltz for Debby" and the moody "Who Cares" could pass for outtakes from Miles Davis' Kind Of Blue, a record on which both Adderley and Evans had played. Know What I Mean? is something of an anomaly for Adderley, but it's a delightful one. This is an under-appreciated masterwork of modern jazz. The CD includes two alternate takes.

The latest Japanese remaster is scheduled for release on Monday, June 21, 2010, and is currently available to buy on pre-order. This is the 2001 K2 remaster.
Recorded at Bell Sound Studios, New York, New York on January 27, February 21 and March 13, 1961. Originally released on Riverside (9433)

Amazon link (2001 K2 remaster)

Personnel
Cannonball Adderley (alto saxophone)
Bill Evans (piano)
Percy Heath (bass)
Connie Kay (drums)


MUSICAL CONTENTS
01. Waltz For Debby.flac
02. Goodbye.flac
03. Who Cares (take 5).flac
04. Venice.flac
05. Toy.flac
06. Elsa.flac
07. Nancy (With The Laughing Face).flac
08. Know What I Mean (re-take 7).flac
09. Who Cares (Take 4).flac
10 Know What I Mean (take 12).flac



Please see also the DCC remaster. Which sounds best? That's obviously a very subjective question. The real difference between the two is in the top end of the frequency range. Unusually, the DCC is actually the brighter of the two (one has come to expect DCC remasters to generally be the warmest-sounding versions available). The DCC has brighter, clearer drums, and a more airy piano tone, whereas the K2 has a phenomenally smooth and natural sax tone. It probably comes down to a mixture of personal taste and the characteristics of your listening equipment (including your ears) as to which you prefer. I personally prefer the DCC - it has more ambience to my ears, but I share this so you too can compare. LD.