Triad Architecture, Bass Player Magazine

IT’S ONE OF THE GROOVIEST TRACKS in the entire history of jazz. Bassist Sam Jones and powerhouse drummer Art Blakey sneak into the intro of “Autumn Leaves” like bandits, stealthy and sure-footed. After Julian “Cannonball” Adderley and shooting star Miles Davis state the theme, Jones and Blakey start tippin’, digging into the ultimate head-bobbing groove. Many fans and critics say that Somethin’ Else [Blue Note, 1958] ranks as the best jazz album—ever. It was not only the front line of Adderley and Miles, but also the rhythm section of Hank Jones (piano, no relation to Sam), Blakey, and Sam Jones that make this album magical. What is it about Sam’s playing that makes everything so hip?

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