LOU DONALDSON QUARTET - Forgotten Man (1981-2015) RM | Timeless Jazz Master Collection 7 | FLAC (tracks), lossless

Altoist Lou Donaldson was never exactly a "forgotten man," but his boppish style had been largely overlooked since his commercial electric funk sessions for Blue Note in the early to mid-'70s. This is a straightahead acoustic quartet date with pianist Herman Foster (whose block chord solos on a couple of numbers are quite exciting), bassist Geoff Fuller and drummer Victor Jones. Donaldson romps through some bop standards, Tadd Dameron's lesser-known "This Is Happiness" and his own "Tracy" and takes a humorous vocal on "Whiskey Drinkin' Woman." Although not essential, this album should easily please Lou Donaldson's fans, for it finds him in exuberant form. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Confirmation 5:58
Charlie Parker    
2     Wiskey Drinkin' Woman 5:34
Lou Donaldson / Leon Spencer    
3     This Is Happiness 3:44
Tadd Dameron    
4     Tracy 4:37
Lou Donaldson    
5     Melancholy Baby 6:52
Ernie Burnett / George Norton    
6     Don't Blame Me 5:15
Dorothy Fields / Jimmy McHugh    
7     Exactly Like You 7:00
Dorothy Fields / Jimmy McHugh
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Lou Donaldson
Bass – Jeff Fuller
Drums – Victor Jones
Piano – Herman Foster

LOU DONALDSON QUARTET - Live in Bologna (1984-2015) RM | Timeless Jazz Master Collection 38 | FLAC (tracks), lossless

A direct (musical) descendant of Bird, alto saxophonist Lou Donaldson has often been criticized for commercial concessions or for lack of imagination. Over a span of decades, his sound remained constant, rarely wavering from his initial bop conception. This set of standards is one of Donaldson's best recordings, in part due to the relaxed setting, but also because of the outstanding piano trio accompanying the saxophonist. Pianist Herman Foster is one of the underrated improvisers of the bop genre, and he, along with bassist Jeff Fuller and drummer Victor Jones, set a sophisticated, vibrant groove that meshes well with Donaldson's brand of straight-ahead blowing. While there is little to distinguish these interpretations of "Stella by Starlight" or "Summertime," the set as a whole has a joyous and even infectious exuberance that should provide an enjoyable, if light, listening experience. Steve Loewy
Tracklist :
1     Stella by Starlight 9:26
Ned Washington / Victor Young    
2     Groovin' High 8:30
Dizzy Gillespie          
3     Summertime 9:05
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin / DuBose Heyward
4     Lou's Blues 9:21
Lou Donaldson     
5     St. Thomas 6:11
Sonny Rollins    
6     Star Eyes 11:45
Gene DePaul / Don Raye
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Lou Donaldson
Bass – Jeff Fuller
Drums – Victor Jones
Piano – Herman Foster