1960 · Album
That's Right! Nat Adderley and the Big Sax Section
Recorded 1960 · Riverside
Nat Adderley Cuts Through Four Saxophones
Nat Adderley has seldom played with more fire, verve, and distinction than he does here.
By 1960, Nat Adderley had already spent several years in his brother's shadow, but That's Right! announces him as a bandleader with real authority. Pairing his cornet against a Big Sax Section—Cannonball Adderley on alto, Jimmy Heath and Charlie Rouse and Yusef Lateef on tenors, and Tate Houston on baritone—was an unusual setup, almost a dare. The cornet could have disappeared into that weight of reeds. Instead, Nat cuts through with a directness that makes the album work. He sounds combative in the best way, refusing to be drowned out, and the saxophones respond by sharpening their tone and tightening their phrasing rather than simply overwhelming him.
Wynton Kelly at the piano, Les Spann and Jim Hall on guitars, Sam Jones on bass, and Jimmy Cobb on drums anchor the whole thing without fussing. The rhythm section stays out of the way—which is exactly what's needed when you're trying to balance that much front-line presence. There's no pretense here, no arrangement bloat. It's Nat with his weapon and a sax section, and he refuses to lose.
The album does feel like an oddity by design, and that's its strength. Nat never had another session quite like this one, and he seems to know it, playing with an urgency that suggests he understood he had something to prove. For listeners curious about what Nat could do on his own terms, this is essential.
Who's playing
Sam Jonesdouble bass
Wynton Kellypiano
Les Spannguitar
Jim Hallguitar
Cannonball Adderleyalto saxophone
Jimmy Heathtenor saxophone
Tate Houstonbaritone saxophone
Yusef Lateeftenor saxophone
Charlie Rousetenor saxophone
Jimmy Cobbdrums
Nat Adderleycornet
Where next?
More by Nat Adderley
The Cannonball Adderley Sextet in New York 1962
The Cannonball Adderley Quintet in San Francisco 1959
♫
At the Lighthouse 1960
Introducing Nat Adderley 1955
The musicians on this record
Western Suite 1960
Jim Hall
plays guitar here
plays guitar here
Kelly Blue 1959
Wynton Kelly
plays piano here
plays piano here
Somethin' Else 1958
Cannonball Adderley
plays alto saxophone here
plays alto saxophone here
Eastern Sounds 1961
Yusef Lateef
plays tenor saxophone here
plays tenor saxophone here
