2011 four CD collection. Cannonball Adderley's alto saxophone style displayed a solid grasp on ballads, Blues and driving Bebop tunes. He played with an irresistible sense of swing and a sound that mixed elements of Charlie Parker's diamond hard luminescence, Benny Carter's beautifully rich alto tone, Louis Jordan's strutting jump band phraseology and a touch of sanctified Gospel feel. These were the classic elements of hard bop, which Cannonball turned into a homogeneous style, that established him as the most popular exponent of the genre. In the late 1950's Cannonball absorbed more influences, such as aspects of the work of Miles Davis, Bill Evans, John Coltrane and even Ornette Coleman into his playing.