Somethin' Else (album)

Somethin' Else is a jazz album by saxophonist Julian "Cannonball" Adderley, released on Blue Note Records in 1958. It is notable for the presence and prominent contributions of Miles Davis in one of his few recording dates for Blue Note. The Penguin Guide to Jazz selected this album as part of its suggested "Core Collection."

Background
The album was recorded during Adderley's membership in the Miles Davis Sextet of 1958, and is one of the few post-1955 appearances of Miles Davis as a sideman. Indeed, Davis plays several of the first solos, composed the bluesy title track and, according to the liner notes, chose most of the material. "Autumn Leaves" would remain in the Davis book, and "Love for Sale" would be recorded by the Davis Sextet a little over two months later.

The twelve-bar blues "One for Daddy-O" was written by Adderley's brother Nat for Chicago radio DJ Holmes "Daddy-O" Daylie. At the end of that track, Davis can be heard addressing producer Alfred Lion, saying "is that what you wanted, Alfred?" Adderley and Davis would also be heard together on the 1958 Columbia Records release Milestones, as well as the 1959 landmark Kind of Blue, one of the most universally acclaimed jazz albums.

Reissue
On March 9, 1999, the album was released on compact disc as part of the Blue Note Rudy Van Gelder Editions series, all titles in the series remastered by Van Gelder himself. It included a bonus track entitled "Bangoon" or, originally and incorrectly, "Alison's Uncle," composed by pianist Hank Jones. More hard bop in tone than the rest of the record, the original title refers to the fact that the session took place shortly after the wife of Nat Adderley had given birth to a daughter named Alison, hence making Cannonball "Alison's Uncle."

Personnel

 * Cannonball Adderley — alto saxophone
 * Miles Davis — trumpet
 * Hank Jones — piano
 * Sam Jones — bass
 * Art Blakey — drums