Jazz Note #5 – Get a Nickname
Although Julian was born on September 15th 1928 in Tampa Florida, musically speaking he was given birth and inspired in New York City by the great Charlie “Bird” Parker. But before that all happened he picked up a nickname; not because his alto sax sounded like incoming artillery. In fact, Cannonball is a spin-off of another childhood nickname “Cannibal”, given for his healthy appetite, which I have read he went in with gusto, which can also best describe the way he plays his horn.