Somethin' Else: Remastered

I picked up at random in the store, and it has become my jazz conversion album -- the one I buy for people who don't see why I love jazz.

A very close second to this album for me is Miles Davis, Kind of Blue.

I challenge you to not love this CD. "Autumn Leaves" alone will melt the hardest hard.


The title says it all   May 20, 2001
willvann@hotmail.com (Cambridge, UK)
30 out of 30 found this review helpful

A stunning album, 'Somethin' Else' was a collaboration between three men - Julian 'Cannonball' Adderley, the credited bandleader; Alfred Lion, the producer and that inescapable great of jazz, Miles Davis. It always seems a bit harsh to Adderley that Miles gets so much more credit for this work than his sideman from 'Kind of Blue' - a much larger photo than the former for example - but then you sit back and realise that, as Musician noted in 1992, this is "...Among the candidates for 'greatest Miles Davis record'...". Miles has such a large role in the recording that you wonder if he is actually bandleader. Fortunately, this is not really important - and soloing from all the players is brilliant, Adderley especially.

You can refer to the liner notes for details of the tracks when you get the album - the bonus track 'Bangoon' is reason enough to buy this re-release. 1958 was a great year for jazz, and 'somethin' else' is right up there with the other great releases of its time.


The greatest of all the Blue Notes?   February 29, 2004
Adam Ventress
59 out of 60 found this review helpful

This was very much a collaborative effort between Cannonball Adderley and the master himself, Miles Davis, in a rare guest appearance. Adderley was part of Miles' sextet that recorded 'Milestones' around the same time as this recording, and Miles was returning the favour. Miles is, if anything, more dominant on this album than his own.
The beautiful opener 'Autumn Leaves',one of the truly great jazz recordings, is an example of this, as Miles takes three solos to Adderley's one, playing the theme at the beginning and end. The arrangement of this standard is inspired, the piano intro and outro by Hank Jones work superbly well, and Miles is at his lyrical, moody best.
'Love For Sale' is also excellent, particularly Miles' contribution, and it is interesting to compare with the version by Miles' sextet, including Adderley, recorded a few months later, and found on '58 Sessions.'
After those two slow/medium tracks, Miles' own 'Somethin Else' raises the tempo and contains blistering interplay between the two men, both playing brilliantly in a joyful and exuberant performance.
Adderley redresses the balance with 'Dancing in the Dark,' where he takes the only lead role and slowly builds momentum and emotion in his playing.
'One for Daddy O' is another fine track featuring both soloists in great form, and although the additional 'Rangoon' is a pefectly decent performance, the album would be as good without it, as it was in its original form, with Dancing in the Dark' as the closing track.
A classic album, and in my opinion the best of all Blue Note recordings; a must for fans of either star (and the supporting cast isn't bad either including Art Blakey on drums!) It offers yet another element to Miles' remarkable late 50s music, arguably the greatest period of his career.


Essential for your collection   December 14, 2004
17 out of 17 found this review helpful

One of the favourite CD's in my collection, this record is right up there with the best. Cannonball may be the leader, but Miles is absolutely superb. He plays the tunes like they belong to him and really inspires the band. The thing that impresses me most is Autumn Leaves. Seeing such a common tune on the track listing one thinks 'Oh not again!', but when Miles comes in with the tune, you have to smile with delight - HE'S THAT GOOD! Don't miss out on this great music.


The best Miles of the mid fifties and a great band   December 30, 2001
George Holderness (gandk.holderness@lineone.net) (Milton Keynes UK)
15 out of 15 found this review helpful

A suberb mix of the introverted cool thoughtful Miles Davis and the extravert swing of Cannonball Adderley.
Everyone plays perfectly and you would think this was a well established unit, not a one off studio recording.
Each track is a beauty - no fillers or duds.