Nat Adderley, the second half of the legendary Adderley brothers, draws us the stellar 1960 Hard Bop "Work Song" album. "Work Song" is ,without the slightest doubt, lyrical and moody in its essence, showing that a breath-taking line-up (both in players and composers) can go a really long way. Though instrumentation can feel a tad grotesque at times "Work Song" never looses or overhauls its charm, its utterly dainty and articulate nature.
Starting out with the dynamic and nightly sounding "Work Song" we get an impression of lush chemistry between the odd pair that is Sam Jones and Nat Adderley. Wes Monstgomery participates rather vaguely but he is still a noticeable and delicious input to this jam's rhythm. Next off; "Pretty Memory", emerges the listener in a jungle-like pattern of chanting cornet. Sam Jones' delicate plucking, and Louis Hayes' percussion marks of wilderness make this track a memorable key to this album. The Gershwin tribute "I've Got a Crush on You" reveals the more graceful, refined tone of Montgomery and the expressive cornet poetry of Nat Adderley recited in a soulful tempo. The funky Rodgers composition "Sack of Woe" scatters the instruments into a compromised groove, a free expression of synchronicity. The album continues with an excellent assortment of catchy little jams and it gets especially smooth in the late tracks.
Even if "Work Song" isn't by any means a cerebral statement it is indeed a very earthly and free-wheeling demonstration of how far a tight ensemble can play fun music that is often bigger than itself. "Work Song" is if anything a timeless sub-classic that consecrated Nat Adderley as a top-tier cornet player and band assembler.
Nat Adderley (~o~)
Work Song (~_~)
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