Let me introduce you one of the 25 best Blue Note albums, and also the album on which we can hear the best performance of the standard, Autumn leaves. It's always exciting when the biggest names work together: a historic event, and probably the result will be unrepeatable. Now the big names are: Miles Davis (trumpet), Cannonball Adderley (alto saxophone), Art Blakey (drums), Hank Jones (piano) and Sam Jones (bass).
I often think about the word perfection, especially in music. Can we talk about it? Does a perfect performance exist of a standard? I don't know, but listening to Autumn leaves on this album, I feel the perfection. Everything is on its right place, in a right mood, in a right rhythm, and so on. They don't just play at the same time, they play together, and feel each other. And there's enough place for the parts, they don't make it too fast, which is very positive. Starting with Miles' clear, dry trumpet voice, the contrast will be Cannonball's warmer and lighter saxophone melody. In the whole track, Art Blakey stays in the background, just to create an even more softer atmosphere for this standard. And in the end, we can hear Hank Jones' beautiful piano solo. After the main theme, everything get silent, and the piano cries its monologue, to start the introducing theme again, which leads us out of the song.
But don't think that it's an outstanding album just because of this track: listen to Love for sale, for example, with its nice delight and cool rhythm. I always say in myself that cool music = cool melody in cool rhythm - to make it simple, and it seems that they feel it, too. The last track, Allison's uncle is also a story: that day, when they recorded it, Cannonball's brother, Nat Adderley's daughter was born. Its other title is Bangoon. I would praise this record for a longer time, but the main meaning appears by listening to it.
This is a must-hear album for fall. Perfect choice for example in the morning on an autumn day, when you cook in the kitchen, and you hear it from the living room. The early morning autumn sunlight is floating into the room. Personal experience.
Autumn leaves:
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