The Music of Nat & Cannonball Adderley

• Stuart Henderson - Trumpet / Cornet
• Michael Wilkins - Alto Saxophone
• Martin Pickett - Piano
• Steve Kershaw - Double Bass
• Mike Goff - Drums

Julian ‘Cannonball’ Adderley, along with his brother Nathaniel Adderley, were key figures in the soul jazz movement, a subgenre that blends hard bop with elements of soul and gospel music. Playing alto saxophone and cornet respectively, they had significant success with their own band, which featured Joe Zawinul on piano, and also with major jazz musicians such as Miles Davis and John Coltrane. While living in Florida in the 1940s, they played with Ray Charles who also lived in the area at the time. Their sound, characterized by simple harmonies, bluesy feel, catchy riffs, and church-influenced rhythms, helped establish soul jazz as a distinct style in the 1960s.

Stuart Henderson

From 1983 - 2005, Stuart Henderson was principal trumpet of The Scots Guards Band, in Her Majesty’s Household Division, and is now one of the country's finest jazzers. He’s played at many jazz festivals including Edinburgh, Glasgow and Brecon and is musical director of the Remix Jazz Orchestra. Recordings include dance labels “Nanny Tango”, “Soul Purpose” and “Greenfly”, collaborations with Tongues of Fire, Macnas and Mark Anderson “Dark Spark”. His commercial work includes the Rebecca Poole quartet, the String of Pearls and Joe Loss.

Michael Wilkins

Trained at Birmingham Conservatoire and Leeds College Of Music. Michael is a regular soloist at The Rose And Crown in Oxford, Goring Community Jazz Club, Ma Bessie’s Pig Foot Band, as well as guest soloist at Windsor’s Jazz Vanguard. He plays with Big Colors and Blake’s Heaven big bands, and recently on the revivals of two Stan Tracey jazz suites, ‘A Child’s Christmas In Wales’ and ‘Under Milk Wood’.