Hump Day Hymns

EXPLORING THE INSPIRATIONS OF CANNONBALL AND VAN

Guitar Shorty

Like Dave Brubeck’s “Take Five” or Miles’ “So What,” musicians seem to find lots to sink their teeth into when toying with Cannonball Adderly’s “Work Song,” as stellar a platform for improvisation and personal exploration as ever created. We offer up three outstanding interpretations by Sammy Davis Jr. with the Count Basie Orchestra, Grant Green and the Paul Butterfield Blues Band and a tight, sharp studio take by Cannonball and his boys.

For the naughtier portion of this week’s Hymns we turn to Van Morrison‘s hungry-as-hell “I’ve Been Working,” covered by Guitar Shorty followed by a smoking live version by Van The Man himself from 1974’s It’s Too Late To Stop Now.

Enjoy working stiffs!