Walk Tall: Tribute to Cannonball Adderley

Eric Marienthal is one of the best (and most underrated) sax players of our time. This album showcases more of his smooth jazz genres, however, believe it!!!---he can play anything! Seeing him play live, his artistry is varied, spontaneous & soulful."Work Song" is perfection with a little help from the talented Chris Botti on trumpet. Eric's version of "Skylark" is deep, moody, and magical. The acoustical arrangement is so gorgeous. "Imagine That" which was co-written by Eric and his keyboard player Rob Mullins is very fine indeed! Rob's keyboards have an almost "Bob James" feeling, yet are truly his own. "Here In My Heart" another orignal song written by Rob Mullins has a light Latin feel. Check out Michael Thompson's addition on guitar. "Country Preacher" is haunting but very sweet and tender. "Unit 7" features Eric smouldering on sax, plus the talented Stanley Clarke on bass, and Lee Ritenour cooking on guitar. "Groove Runner" is something soulful with Eric on sax, Jeff Lorber on drum, base, and keyboards, plus Michael Thompson on guitar. I defy you not to be impressed with what you will hear!!!!If you think you haven't heard Eric Marienthal, check out some of this work on albums from Chick Corea, David Benoit, The Rippingtons, Keiko Matsui, Toni Tennille, John Tesh, and George Kahn. This album, produced with inspiration, is a gem!

I've been wearing this CD out for a long time. I've also been a Marienthal fan for a long time -- he's a guy who's been paying his dues in the world of music. The first three cuts alone -- "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy," "Work Song," and "Walk Tall" -- along with the fifth cut, "Imagine That," are worth the effort of getting this recording. This tribute is genuinely rewarding. Opinionated ultra-"purists" may quibble or disagree, but Marienthal has genuinely done an excellent job of infusing unexpected and astonishing new life and vigor into these great Cannonball Adderley pieces. If you are really devoted to the saxophone, and you haven't yet heard Eric on the horn with the legacy of Cannonball, then you're really going to have a moment of revelation with this one. Absolutely nothing will distract you from this recording. Imagine that!

It good

Eric Marienthal is an excellent saxophonist, excelling in smooth, straight ahead, and big band jazz. That said, it's really tough to hear Cannonball's classics, both the bop and soul jazz tunes, rendered so smoothly. Eric's version of Mercy, Mercy, Mercy lacks all the soul that made the original so hip. I involuntarily cringed after the transition between Cannonball's spoken word intro and the new, oh-so-smooth drum machine groove. Work Song is supposed to be a field blues sung by slaves, and the original really does so with a driving, intense feel. This version is just weak and, let's face it, extremely white.If you like smooth jazz, Eric Marienthal is an excellent player of that genre, but if you are expecting a Cannonball tribute that actually captures the soul behind Cannonball's music, this isn't it. Extremely smooth interpretations lacking the fire that made Cannonball such a master.

If you like Cannonball Adderley DO NOT get this disc. This album is "background music." It's amazing Eric M. can invert the spirit of Cannonball's playing so thoroughly. I just can't believe what he did to "Work Song." Does he even know what that song is about? This album is an insulting and soul-less take on soul-ful music.For people who listen to the weather station and get swept up in the emotion of the background "muzak," knock yourselves out... seriously... when you wake up you might suddenly realize, "You know what, this muzak truly has no substance. It's kind of like a caramel apple without the apple..."

I bet Cannonball Adderly would enjoy sitting back and taking this in. It's a great collection of classics, recorded with state-of-the-art technology, but with an appreciation for the purity of the original work. Marienthal is faithful to the source and adds his own love of Adderley's work to make this a gem in anyone's jazz collection.

I have several of Eric Marienthals CD's. I believe him to be the most passionate sax players of our times. This new CD "Walk Tall" takes you to many depths of emotion. His music is inspiring and just plain fun to listen to! I know you'll LOVE this CD.

This guy has not one iota of soul, which stands in stark contrast to Cannonball, who was soul personified. I'm sure he'll sell a lot of records to people who want to hear ear candy, and that's pretty sad.