Research Catalog

Details

Additional authors

1. Adderley, Nat, 1931-2000
2. Murray, James Briggs
3. Owens, Jimmy, 1943-
4. Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.
5. Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Louis Armstrong Jazz Oral History Project.

Description

1. 3 videodiscs (104 min.) : soud, color; 4 3/4 in.

Summary

1. The oral history interview with Nat Adderley begins with his childhood. Adderley was born in Tampa, Fla. A year later, the family, including older brother Cannonball moved to Tallahassee. Adderley's father played cornet and trumpet; around age 7 Nat began studying trumpet. A discussion of the jazz scene in Florida follows. Florida had a number of influential musicians, notably Blue Mitchell (Miami) and Cannonball. Adderley also admired musicians from other locales: Buck Clayton and Roy Eldridge, later Dizzy Gillespie. In the 1940s, Adderley collaborated with Blue; he taught Blue trumpet while Blue taught him bebop. World War II: a band director put Nat and Cannonball in a local college band; taught them a great deal. Nat sang with the band, but at 12 his voice changed. He therefore focused on the trumpet; learned a number of techniques. Late 1940s/early 1950s (service years): practiced by imitating Dizzy and Miles Davis. Duke Ellington came to play at Florida A & M; band member, Clark Terry, had dinner at the Adderley home. Under Terry's tutelage Nat began to understand why he was playing particular notes. Terry helped Nat get started in NYC. 1953/54 school year, Lionel Hampton came to play; Nat joined Hampton's band. The band was a classic trumpet band; Adderley, however, began playing the cornet. Jaki Byard started them on bebop; he introduced Cannonball to Charlie Parker and Nat to Dizzy. Nat toured US and Europe with Hampton. Was scheduled to play the Apollo; awaiting the birth of his son in Fla., he was replaced. Went to NYC anyway and, through Buster Cooper, began playing with a rhythm & blues band. Returned to Florida, then Philadelphia; played with Junior Mance, Sam Jones and Specs Wright (whom he likened to Max Roach). Terry and Quincy Jones got them a deal with Mercury (1956). Financial difficulties ensued and the band dismantled. Joined J.J. Johnson and signed with Riverside. Left J.J. for a gig with Woody Herman (1959). Continued to incorporate various exercises into his solos; superimposed chords were a particular challenge. Formed the Cannonball Adderley Quintet with brother; their careers ran parallel to each other until Cannonball's death in 1975. Nat toured Europe and, reuniting with J.J., Japan. Formed Nat Adderley Quintet. Discusses bell's palsy and a 1986 bypass surgery; prompts a discussion of Jimmy Heath's heart attack (same day, also in 1986). Adderley presents a collage of his works: "Mysterioso" (with Heath), "Motherless child" (with Hampton), etc. Special emphasis placed on Nat's greatest commercial hit, "Work song". Talks about the business side of music, including their own publishing, management and production companies. Concludes the interview with a discussion of Louis Armstrong; Adderley's father was an Armstrong fan but was critical of Armstrong's on-stage portrayal of African Americans. This affected Nat early on; later Adderley and Armstrong became neighbors and collaborators. Also collaborated with Ella Fitzgerald.

Donor/Sponsor

1. The Louis Armstrong Jazz Oral History Project was funded by the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation, Inc.

Subject

1. Mance, Junior, 1928-2021
2. Adderley, Nat, 1931-2000 > Interviews
3. Davis, Miles > Influence
4. Johnson, J. J., 1924-2001
5. Adderley, Nat, 1931-2000 > Performances > Japan
6. African American composers
7. Facial paralysis
8. Adderley, Cannonball
9. Trumpet players > United States
10. Nat Adderley Quintet
11. Eldridge, Roy, 1911-1989 > Influence
12. Trumpet music (Jazz)
13. Adderley, Nat, 1931-2000 > Childhood and youth
14. Cornet players > United States
15. Mitchell, Blue, 1930-1979
16. Jazz > Florida > History
17. African American musicians
18. Cornet > Chord diagrams > Technique
19. Adderley, Nat, 1931-2000 > Performances > Europe
20. Adderley, Nat, 1931-2000 > Family
21. Rhythm and blues music
22. Cannonball Adderley Quintet
23. Trumpet > Study and teaching
24. Bop (Music) > History
25. Gillespie, Dizzy, 1917-1993
26. Trumpet with jazz ensemble
27. Trumpet > Technique
28. Oral histories
29. Herman, Woody, 1913-1987
30. Clayton, Buck, 1911-1991 > Influence
31. Cooper, Buster
32. Terry, Clark > Influence
33. Hampton, Lionel
34. Jones, Sam, 1924-1981
35. Jones, Quincy, 1933-
36. Trumpet > Chord diagrams > Technique
37. Adderley, Nat, 1931-2000 > Health
38. Wright, Charles, 1927-1963
39. Adderley, Nat, 1931-2000 > Performances > Saudi Arabia
40. Interviews
41. Armstrong, Louis, 1901-1971 > Influence
42. Jazz musicians > United States
43. Cornet music (Jazz)

Genre/Form

1. Interviews.
2. Oral histories.

Call number

1. Sc Visual DVD-1063

Note

1. The Louis Armstrong Jazz Oral History Project was funded by the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation, Inc.

Credits (note)

1. Producer, James Briggs Murray.

Terms of use (note)

1. Permission required to cite, quote and reproduce; contact repository for information.

Biography (note)

1. Nat Adderley is a cornet player, trumpet player and composer. Born Nathaniel Adderley on Oct. 25, 1931 in Tampa, Fla., he began a prolific career in jazz at an early age. First in close association with older brother Cannonball (Julian Edwin) and, from 1975, on his own.

Linking entry (note)

1. Forms part of: Louis Armstrong Jazz Oral History Project.

Title

1. Oral history interview with Nat Adderley.

Production

1. New York : Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, 1993.

Type of content

1. two-dimensional moving image

Type of medium

1. video

Type of carrier

1. videodisc

Digital file characteristics

1. video file DVD

Performer

1. Interviewer, Jimmy Owens.

Credits

1. Producer, James Briggs Murray.

Event

1. Recorded April 2, 1993 Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.

Terms of use

1. Permission required to cite, quote and reproduce; contact repository for information.

Biography

1. Nat Adderley is a cornet player, trumpet player and composer. Born Nathaniel Adderley on Oct. 25, 1931 in Tampa, Fla., he began a prolific career in jazz at an early age. First in close association with older brother Cannonball (Julian Edwin) and, from 1975, on his own.

Linking entry

1. Forms part of: Louis Armstrong Jazz Oral History Project.

Local note

1. Archival original: 1 videocassette (MII) in Sc Visual VRC-2.

Connect to:

1. Request Access to Schomburg Moving Images and Recorded Sound

Added author

1. Adderley, Nat, 1931-2000, interviewee.
2. Murray, James Briggs, producer.
3. Owens, Jimmy, 1943- interviewer.
4. Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.
5. Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Louis Armstrong Jazz Oral History Project.

Research call number

1. Sc Visual DVD-1063
2. Sc Visual VRA-179 VHS
3. Sc Visual VRC-2 MII