CLIFFORD BROWN – The Complete Blue Note And Pacific Jazz Recordings (1995) 4xCD BOX-SET | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This four-CD set has the exact same music as an earlier Mosaic five-LP box, but is highly recommended to those listeners not already possessing the limited-edition set. Trumpeter Clifford Brown is heard on the most significant recordings from the first half of his tragically brief career. Whether co-leading a date with altoist Lou Donaldson, playing as a sideman with trombonist J.J. Johnson, interacting with an all-star group of West Coast players, or jamming with the first (although unofficial) edition of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers (a two-disc live performance with a quintet that also includes the drummer/leader, Donaldson and pianist Horace Silver), Brown is the main star. Highlights are many, including versions of "Brownie Speaks," Elmo Hope's "De-Dah," "Cherokee," "Get Happy," "Daahoud" and "Joy Spring." The attractive packaging, with its 40 pages of text and many rare pictures, is an added bonus. Scott Yanow    Tracklist + Credits :

CLIFFORD BROWN – Memorial Album (1956-1989) RM | MONO | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Like swing guitarist Charlie Christian, Clifford Brown was incredibly influential for someone who died so young. The Fats Navarro-minded trumpeter was only 25 when a car accident claimed his life in 1956, but his influence remained long after his death -- Freddie Hubbard, Lee Morgan, Woody Shaw, Donald Byrd, and Carmell Jones were among the many trumpet titans who were heavily influenced by Brown. In the early to mid-'50s, Brown kept getting more and more exciting; those who found him impressive in 1952 found even more reason to be impressed in 1955. That means that when it comes to Brown's dates, excellent doesn't necessarily mean essential. Recorded in 1953, the material here isn't quite as essential as some of Brown's work with drummer Max Roach in 1954 and 1955, but it's still superb. The trumpet icon is heard at two different sessions, the first with saxmen Gigi Gryce and Charlie Rouse, pianist John Lewis, bassist Percy Heath, and drummer Art Blakey. The other includes Heath, alto saxman Lou Donaldson, pianist Elmo Hope, and drummer Philly Joe Jones (who in 1953 was two years away from joining Miles Davis' quintet). Brown's solos are consistently expressive; he swings unapologetically hard on up-tempo fare like "Carvin' the Rock," "Cherokee," and Quincy Jones' "Wail Bait," but is quite lyrical on the ballads "You Go to My Head" and "Easy Living." One thing all of the performances have in common is a strong Fats Navarro influence; Navarro was Brown's primary inspiration, although Brown became quite distinctive himself at an early age. Casual listeners would be better off starting out with some of Brown's recordings with Max Roach; nonetheless, seasoned fans will find this to be a treasure chest. Alex Henderson   Tracklist + Credits :

THELONIOUS MONK – 1951-1952 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1430 (2007) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

During a three year period following his Blue Note session of July 2, 1948, Thelonious Monk made no studio recordings as a leader. This second installment in the complete recordings of Monk as reissued in the Classics Chronological Series presents the master takes from Monk's Blue Note and Prestige sessions dating from July 23, 1951 through December 18, 1952. This portion of Monk's discography is a rich blend of 15 original compositions and five jazz standards, performed in the company of skilled improvisers like vibraphonist Milt Jackson, trumpeter Kenny Dorham, and saxophonists Lou Donaldson, Sahib Shihab, and Lucky Thompson. Monk's bassists during this 17-month period were Al McKibbon, Nelson Boyd, and Gary Mapp. His drummers were Art Blakey and Max Roach. Monk would continue to record for Prestige until September 1954; his fruitful working relationship with Riverside would commence in July 1955. By concentrating on master takes and combining the all too often separated selections from the Blue Note and Prestige catalogs, Classics has once again done a splendid job of reissuing great historic jazz recordings with a detailed disocgraphical session index and insightful liner notes that will enable the listener to better understand and fully enjoy this great music. arwulf arwulf       Tracklist :

LOU DONALDSON - The Complete Blue Note Lou Donaldson Sessions 1957-60 (2002) RM | MONO | 6xCD | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

A soul survivor in every sense of the term, this alto saxophonist is one of the few remaining jazz artists who made a major impact on the jazz community via an extensive run with producer Alfred Lion and the Blue Note label (Horace Silver being another Blue Note legend that comes to mind). From his first recordings for the label with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, it was clear that Lou Donaldson put melody and sound at a premium, coming up with an amalgam that combined the creamy smoothness of Johnny Hodges with the quicksilver bop inflections of Charlie Parker.
Over the course of some 20 albums that Donaldson would cut for Blue Note beginning with his first sessions in 1953, you can trace the course of popular jazz styles, from bop inflected quintets to soul jazz organ combos. The majority of this new six disc set covers the type of bebop fare that is the core of Donaldson's musical persona and much of this material has been available previously on compact disc, although there are a few items that could only be found previously on pricey Japanese imports.

For the record, the albums included herein are Wailing with Lou, Swing and Soul, Lou Takes Off, Blues Walk, LD + 3, The Time Is Right, Sunny Side Up, Light-Foot, Gravy Train, and Midnight Sun.

Seven of the original sessions feature Donaldson in stripped down quartet formats, with conga player Ray Barretto added on occasion. Pianist Herman Foster is a mainstay on several of these dates and he shares a strong affinity with our leading man, especially on the albums Swing and Soul and Light-Foot. Of course, the cream of the crop in this category has to be Blues Walk, a certifiable Blue Note gem with bop ditties such as 'Move' and 'Callin' All Cats' mixing beautifully with lush ballad as found on 'The Masquerade Is Over' and 'Autumn Nocturne.' Never before available in the U.S. on disc, the transcendent L.D. + 3 should be considered the sleeper of these quartet/quintet sides, with Gene Harris and the Three Sounds helping to cast a bluish hue that finds Donaldson at his most sublime. In fact, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to suggest that this session alone is worth the price of admission.

The rest of the set finds Donaldson working with larger groups, starting with 1957's Lou Takes Off. Strictly a blowing session, the four extended performances allow Donald Byrd, Curtis Fuller, and Donaldson to stretch out at length, with the rhythm section of Sonny Clark , George Joyner, and Art Taylor booting things along at a medium tempo for the most part. For Wailing With Lou, The Time Is Right, and Sunny Side Up, things revert to a quintet format that places trumpet and alto as the lead voices. The latter two albums are excellent Blue Note dates of the period that make the most of pianist Horace Parlan's bluesy grass roots approach. Plus, trumpeters Blue Mitchell and Bill Hardman make perfect foils to Donaldson in that each has a lyrical style that meshes beautifully with altoist's own melodic muse.

Closing this durable set and serving as a signpost of groovier things to come, namely the organ combo records that Donaldson would launch into beginning with The Natural Soul, 1960's Midnight Sun and the following year's Gravy Train, wrap up this set in a funky vein with Barretto (and Alec Dorsey on Gravy Train ) back to add a little percussive spice. Pieces like 'Dog Walk,' 'Twist Time,' and 'Gravy Train' are modern blues numbers with just a touch of soul and a flavor that would make them jukebox classics at the time—their crossover appeal was very strong.

In typical Mosaic fashion, this set is housed in a 12 x 12 inch box (although the company now is not fastening the top and bottom sections of the box; the top simply slips on top of the bottom half). Along with the 24-bit sound in this package, a 16-page booklet includes original session photographs by Francis Wolff and commentary by Bob Blumenthal. All recordings are available solely through Mosaic Records: 35 Melrose Place; Stamford, CT 06902; (203) 327-7111.

 All Tracks & Credits

LOU DONALDSON - Complete 1952 Blue Note Sessions (1952-2002) APE (image+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1    Tahiti 3'29
Milt Jackson
2    Lillie 3'15
Milt Jackson
3    Bag's Groove 3'04
Milt Jackson
4    What's New 3'12
Haggart-Burke
5    Don't Get Around Much Anymore 2'59
Ellington / Russell
6    On The Scene 2'43
Lou Donaldson
7    Skippy 3'02
T. Monk
8    Hornin' In 3'15
T. Monk
9    Sixteen 3'39
T. Monk
10    Carolina Moon 3'28
Davis / Burke
11    Let's Cool One 3'48
T. Monk
12    I'll Follow You 3'48
Turk / Ahlert
13    Roccus 3'24
H. Silver
14    The Things We Did Last Summer 3'20
Styne / Cahn
15    Cheek To Cheek 3'01
I. Berlin
16    Lou's Blues 3'44
Lou Donaldson
17    Sweet Juice 3'29
H. Silver
18    If I Love Again 2'38
Murray / Oakland
19    Down Home 3'19
Lou Donaldson
20    The Best Things In Life Are Free 3'22
De Sylva / Brown / Henderson
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Lou Donaldson with
1-6
Bass – Percy Heath
Vibes - Milt Jackson
Piano - John Lewis
Drums – Kenny Clark
7-12
Trumpet - Kenny Dorham
Tenor Sax - Lucky Thompson
Piano - Thelonious Monk
Bass - Nelson Boyd
Drums - Max Roach
13-16
Piano - Horace Silver
Bass - Gene Ramey
Drums - Art Taylor
17-20
Trumpet - Blue Mitchell (except on # 17)
Piano - Horace Silver
Bass - Percy Heath
Drums - Art Blakey

LOU DONALDSON & GRANT GREEN - Cool Blus (1961-2012) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1    A Foggy Day    6:38
2    Here Tis    9:26
3    Cool Blues    6:54
4    Watusi Jump    7:32
5    Walk Wid Me    8:37
6    Misty    8:33
7    Please    6:09
8    Man With A Horn    5:49
9    Prisoner Of Love    5:12
10    Stardust    6:12
Notas.
Tracks 1-5: Recorded January 23, 1961. Previously issued as Here 'Tis.
Tracks 6-10: Recorded September 25, 1961. Previously issued on A Man With A Horn.

LOU DONALDSON | CLIFFORD BROWN - New Faces-New Sounds (1953-2014) FLAC (tracks), lossless

New Faces New Sounds is a 1953 date featuring saxophonist Lou Donaldson and trumpeter Clifford Brown leading a quartet. The tracks were also issued on 1956's Memorial Album after Brown's death. Backing them here are pianist Elmo Hope, bassist Percy Heath, and drummer Philly Joe Jones. This is superb, highly influential hard bop jazz. Matt Collar
Tracklist :
1     Carving the Rock 3'57
Elmo Hope / Sonny Rollins
2     You Go to My Head 4'21
J. Fred Coots / Dizzy Gillespie        
3     De-Dah 4'51
Elmo Hope    
4     Brownie Speaks 3'47
Clifford Brown    
5     Cookin' 3'14
Lou Donaldson    
6     Bellarosa 4'14
Elmo Hope
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Lou Donaldson
Bass – Percy Heath
Drums – "Philly" Joe Jones
Piano – Elmo Hope
Trumpet – Clifford Brown

LOU DONALDSON QUINTET - Wailing with Lou (1957-1999) RM | 24 Bit By RVG | APE (image+.cue), lossless

Wailing With Lou is an appropriate title for this enjoyable set of straight-ahead bop. Whether he's riding the propulsive rhythms of "Caravan" or settling down into a ballad, Donaldson takes the center stage with his surprisingly full alto tone. He still displays a clear Charlie Parker influence, but he is beginning to break free and develop his own style. In particular, he relies on bluesy runs more than Bird, which give his music a soulful edge. But what makes Wailing With Lou so enjoyable is the hot interplay between Donaldson, trumpeter Donald Byrd, pianist Herman Foster, bassist Peck Morrison and drummer Art Taylor. All five musicians give enthusiastic, infectious performances. There's nothing out of the ordinary here -- just hard-driving bop and sensitive ballads, which are sure to please fans of the style. Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Tracklist :
1     L.D. Blues 5'20
Lou Donaldson    
2     Caravan 5'57
Duke Ellington / Irving Mills / Juan Tizol
3     Old Folks 6'20
Dedette Lee Hill / Willard Robison
4     That Good Old Feeling 6'50
Lou Donaldson
5     Move It 5'53
Lou Donaldson
6     There is No Greater Love 6'53
Isham Jones / Marty Symes
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Lou Donaldson
Bass – 'Peck' Morrison
Drums – Art Taylor
Piano – Herman Foster
Recorded By [Recording By] – Rudy Van Gelder
Trumpet – Donald Byrd

LOU DONALDSON - Quartet / Quintet / Sextet (1957-1999) RM | MONO | 24 Bit By RVG | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Since Quartet/Quintet/Sextet is Lou Donaldson's first full-length album, it's not surprising that it captures the alto saxophonist at the height of his Charlie Parker influence. Throughout the album -- on CD, the collection features all the music on the 12" LP, music from its 10" incarnation, and three alternate takes -- Donaldson plays in a straight bop vein, whether on up-tempo swingers or ballads. Most of the songs on the collection are standards, with a couple of fine originals from Donaldson and pianist Horace Silver spicing the mix; in particular, Silver's rollicking, Latin-tinged "Roccus" is a standout. While Donaldson's tone isn't quite as full as it would be within just five years, he impresses with his bold, speedy technique and fine phrasing. He doesn't play anything out of the ordinary, but he plays it very, very well, and his playing is enhanced by the three stellar bands that support him on these sessions. Among his fellow musicians on Quartet/Quintet/Sextet are Silver, bassist Gene Ramey, drummer Art Taylor, trumpeter Blue Mitchell, pianist Elmo Hope, and trumpeter Kenny Dorham. Everyone plays in a straight bop and hard bop tradition, contributing fine performances to a strong debut effort by Donaldson. Stephen Thomas Erlewine  
Tracklist :
1     If I Love Again 2:41
Jack Murray / Ben Oakland    
2     Down Home 3:21
Lou Donaldson    
3     The Best Things in Life Are Free 3:26
Lew Brown / Buddy DeSylva / Ray Henderson
4     Lou's Blues 3:44
Lou Donaldson    
5     Cheek to Cheek 3:04
Irving Berlin    
6     Sweet Juice 3:32
Horace Silver    
7     The Stroller 5:38
Lou Donaldson    
8     Roccus 3:27
Horace Silver    
9     Caracas 6:02
Lou Donaldson    
10     Moe's Bluff 5:08
Elmo Hope
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Lou Donaldson
Bass – Gene Ramey, Percy Heath
Drums – Art Blakey, Arthur Taylor
Piano – Elmo Hope, Horace Silver
Recorded By [Recording By], Remastered By – Rudy Van Gelder
Trombone – Matthew Gee
Trumpet – Blue Mitchell, Kenny Dorham

LOU DONALDSON QUINTET - Swing and Soul (1957-2000) RM | 24 Bit By RVG | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1     Dorothy 5:24
Rudy Nichols    
2     I Won't Cry Any More 4:22
Al Frisch / Fritz Wise    
3     Herman's Mambo 4:54
Herman Foster    
4     Peck Time 5:20
Lou Donaldson    
5     There'll Never Be Another You 5:06
Mack Gordon / Harry Warren    
6     Groove Junction 6:18
Lou Donaldson    
7     Grits And Gravy 6:17
Lou Donaldson
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Lou Donaldson
Bass – 'Peck' Morrison
Congas – Ray Barretto
Drums – Dave Bailey
Piano – Herman Foster
Recorded By [Recording By], Remastered By – Rudy Van Gelder

LOU DONALDSON - Blues Walk (1958-2010) RM | SACD, Hybrid | The Blue Note Reissues | WV (image+.cue), lossless

Lou Donaldson's undisputed masterpiece, Blues Walk, marks the point where the altoist began to decisively modify his heavy Charlie Parker influence and add a smoky, bluesy flavor of his own. The material is still firmly in the bebop vein, and the mellower moments aren't as sleepy as some of Donaldson's subsequent work, so the album sounds vital and distinctive even as it slows down and loosens things up. That makes it the definitive release in Donaldson's early, pre-soul-jazz period, but what elevates Blues Walk to classic status is its inviting warmth. Donaldson's sweetly singing horn is ingratiating and melodic throughout the six selections, making even his most advanced ideas sound utterly good-natured and accessible. The easy-swinging title cut is a classic, arguably Donaldson's signature tune even above his late-'60s soul-jazz hits, and his other two originals -- "Play Ray" and "Callin' All Cats" -- are in largely the same vein. Elsewhere, Donaldson displays opposite extremes of his sound; the up-tempo bebop classic "Move" provokes his fieriest playing on the record, and his romantic version of "Autumn Nocturne" is simply lovely, a precursor to Lush Life. The addition of Ray Barretto on conga is a subtle masterstroke, adding just a bit more rhythmic heft to the relaxed swing. There are numerous likable records in Donaldson's extensive catalog, but Blues Walk is the best of them all. Steve Huey  
Tracklist :
1     Blues Walk 6:44
Lou Donaldson    
2     Move 5:54
Denzil Best    
3     The Masquerade Is Over 5:54
Herbert Magidson / Allie Wrubel    
4     Play Ray 5:32
Lou Donaldson    
5     Autumn Nocturne 4:55
Kim Gannon / Josef Myrow
6     Callin' All Cats 5:15
Lou Donaldson
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Lou Donaldson
Bass – 'Peck' Morrison
Congas – Ray Barretto
Drums – Dave Bailey
Engineer [SACD Authoring] – Gus Skinas
Piano – Herman Foster
Recorded By – Rudy Van Gelder
Remastered By – Kevin Gray, Steve Hoffman

LOU DONALDSON - Light Foot (1959-2000) RM | 24 Bit By RVG | FLAC (tracks), lossless

In many ways, Blues Walk marked the culmination of Lou Donaldson's prime period as a hard-driving, straight-ahead bop saxophonist. Until that point, he had been turning out intense, furious bop workouts -- afterward, as its successor Light Foot shows, he began to slow down a bit. With Light Foot, Donaldson still was pretty firmly grounded in bop, but the tempos began to slow down, and his blues influence came to the forefront; furthermore, the bop tracks are hard bop, not straight bop, which tended to dominate his previous recordings. That diversity makes Light Foot an interesting listen, but the record suffers from slightly uneven material and performances. His quintet -- featuring pianist Herman Foster, bassist Peck Morrison, drummer Jimmy Wormsworth, and conga player Ray Barretto -- is usually up to the task at hand, but they tend to play conventionally. And, ultimately, that's what Light Foot is -- an entertaining but conventional release from an alto saxophonist capable of greatness. Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Tracklist :
1     Light Foot 5:35
Lou Donaldson    
2     Hog Maw (False Start) 7:39
Lou Donaldson    
3     Mary Ann 6:41
Ray Charles    
4     Green Eyes 5:21
Nilo Menendez / Adolfo Utrera    
5     Walking by the River 5:39
Una Mae Carlisle / Robert Sour    
6     Day Dreams 5:39
Herman Foster    
7     Stella by Starlight 5:50
Ned Washington / Victor Young
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Lou Donaldson
Bass – 'Peck' Morrison
Congas – Ray Barretto
Drums – Jimmy Wormworth
Piano – Herman Foster
Recorded By [Recording By], Remastered By – Rudy Van Gelder

LOU DONALDSON WITH THE THREE SOUNDS - LD+3 (1959-2010) RM | Digibook | WV (image+.cue), lossless

Lou Donaldson and the Three Sounds both had a tendency to slip into low-key grooves, which is what makes the hard-driving bop of the opener "Three Little Words" a little startling. Donaldson is at a fiery peak, spinning out Bird-influenced licks that nevertheless illustrate that he's developed a more rounded, individual style of his own. The Three Sounds are equally as impressive, working bop rhythms with a dexterity that their first albums only hinted at. That high standard is maintained throughout the album, one of the finest in either of their catalogs. Albums like this and Blues Walk established Donaldson's reputation as a first-rate alto saxophonist, since he flaunts a full, robust tone, a fondness for melody, and nimble solos over the course of the record. LD + 3 is pretty much straight bop and hard bop, with little of the soul-jazz the two artists would later explore, but this collection of swinging standards, bop staples, and a pair of Donaldson originals ranks as one of Lou's finest straight bop sessions.  Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Tracklist :
1     Three Little Words 6:19     
Bert Kalmar / Harry Ruby
2     Smooth Groove 5:53
Lou Donaldson
3     Just Friends 5:13
John Klenner / Sam M. Lewis
4     Blue Moon 3:08     
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
5     Jump Up 6:37     
Lou Donaldson
6     Don't Take Your Love From Me 5:54
Henry Nemo
7     Confirmation 5:32
Charlie Parker
Credits :
Alto Saxophone [Alto Sax] – Lou Donaldson
Bass – Andrew Simpkins
Drums – Bill Dowdy
Piano – Gene Harris
Recorded By [Recording By] – Rudy Van Gelder

LOU DONALDSON - Sunny Side Up (1960-2011) RM | SACD, Hybrid | The Blue Note Reissues | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Sunny Side Up is closer to hard bop than the straight-ahead bop that characterized Lou Donaldson's '50s Blue Note records. There's a bit more soul to the songs here, which pianist Horace Parlan helps emphasize with his lightly swinging grooves. The pair help lead the group -- which also features trumpeter Bill Hardman, drummer Al Harewood and bassist Sam Jones (Laymon Jackson plays bass on two of the eight songs) -- through a mellow set of standards and bluesy originals from Donaldson and Parlan. Even the uptempo numbers sound relaxed, never fiery. Despite the general smoothness of the session, Donaldson stumbles a little -- the quotation of "Flight of the Bumblebee" on "Blues for J.P." is awkward, as is the snippet of "Pop Goes the Weasel" on "Politely," and "Way Down Upon the Swanee River" sounds lazy -- but there's enough solid material to make Sunny Side Up a worthwhile listen for fans of Donaldson and early-'60s hard bop. Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Tracklist :
1    Blues For J.P. 5'40
Written-By – Parlan
2    The Man I Love 5'16
Written-By – Gershwin
3    Politely 5'53
Written-By – Hardman
4    It's You Or No One 3'58
Written-By – Styne-Cahn
5    The Truth 5'22
Written-By – Donaldson
6    Goose Grease 6'10
Written-By – Donaldson
7    Softly As In A Morning Sunrise 6'34
Written-By – Romberg-Hammerstein
8    Way Down Upon the Swanee River (Bonus Track) 5'58
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Lou Donaldson
Bass – Laymon Jackson, Sam Jones
Drums – Al Harewood
Piano – Horace Parlan
Trumpet – Bill Hardman

LOU DONALDSON - The Time Is Right (1960-2011) RM | SACD, Hybrid | The Blue Note Reissues | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1    Lou's Blues 5'55
Written-By – Lou Donaldson
2    Be My Love 5'45
Written-By – Nicholas Brodszky, Sammy Cahn
3    Idaho 5'10
Written-By – Jesse Stone
4    The Nearness Of You 4'42
Written-By – Hoagy Carmichael, Ned Washington
5    Mack The Knife 5'17
Written-By – Bertolt Brecht, Kurt Weill, Marc Blitzstein
6    Crosstown Shuffle 5'15
Written-By – Lou Donaldson
7    Tangerine 4'57
Written-By – Johnny Mercer, Victor Schertzinger
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Lou Donaldson
Bass – Laymon Jackson
Congas – Ray Barretto
Drums – Dave Bailey
Engineer [SACD Authoring] – Gus Skinas
Piano – Horace Parlan
Recorded By – Rudy Van Gelder
Trumpet – Blue Mitchell

LOU DONALDSON - Midnight Sun (1960-1980) lp | FLAC (tracks), lossless

Recorded in July of 1960, Midnight Sun sat unissued in Blue Note's vaults until the early '80s, when it was issued as part of their LT series. Like many of the previously unreleased albums in the series, it's clear that the only reason this remained in the vaults was because the label was releasing too many records, not because the session itself was second-rate. Granted, there are a couple of awkward moments on the date, but for the most part, Midnight Sun is as strong as any of the hard bop records Donaldson released in the early '60s. Part of the reason the quality is so high is the fact his supporting quartet is so strong. Pianist Horace Parlan has a number of fine moments on the record, and Lou's longtime rhythm section of bassist Ben Tucker, drummer Al Harewood, and conga player Ray Barretto is as reliable as ever. Any dedicated Donaldson fan should search for this record; even if it doesn't reach the heights of Blues Walk and Here 'Tis, it still has plenty of fine music. Stephen Thomas Erlewine
A1    Candy 6:12
Written-By – Alex Kramer, Joan Whitney, Mack David
A2    Midnight Sun 5:46
Written-By – Johnny Mercer, Lionel Hampton, Sonny Burke
A3    Avalon 5:18
Written-By – Al Jolson, Buddy G. De Sylva, Vincent Rose
B1    The Squirrel 3:33
Written-By – Tadd Dameron
B2    Si Si Safronia 4:31
Written-By – Lou Donaldson
B3    Exactly Like You 5:04
Written-By – Dorothy Fields, Jimmy McHugh
B4    Dog Walk 4:24
Written-By – Lou Donaldson
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Lou Donaldson
Bass – Ben Tucker
Congas – Ray Barretto
Drums – Al Harewood
Engineer – Rudy Van Gelder
Piano – Horace Parlan

LOU DONALDSON - Here' Tis (1961-2010) RM | SACD, Hybrid | The Blue Note Reissues | WV (image+.cue), lossless

Here 'Tis is in the front rank of Lou Donaldson records, an exceptionally funky soul-jazz session that finds the saxophonist swinging harder than usual. As he moves from hard bop to soul-jazz, Donaldson reveals a bluesy streak to his playing while keeping the vigorous attack that defined his best bop. Donaldson's playing is among his finest in the soul-jazz vein, but what makes Here 'Tis such an enjoyable session is his interaction with his supporting trio of guitarist Grant Green, organist Baby Face Willette, and drummer Dave Bailey. As support, all three know how to keep a groove gritty and flexible, following Lou's lead and working a swinging beat that keeps flowing, never growing static. Green and Willette also have their time in the spotlight, and both musicians are frequently stunning. Green's single-note leads are clean and inventive; Willette is rhythmic and forceful, but also capable of soulful, mellow leads on the slow blues. Their talent, combined with Donaldson at a peak, results in a terrific record. Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Tracklist:
1 A Foggy Day 6:35
Written-By – Gershwin
2 Here 'Tis 9:23
Written-By – Lou Donaldson
3 Cool Blues 6:50
Written-By – Charlie Parker
4 Watusi Jump 7:30
Written-By – Lou Donaldson
5 Walk Wid Me 8:36
Written-By – Lou Donaldson
Credits:
Alto Saxophone – Lou Donaldson
Drums – Dave Bailey
Guitar – Grant Green
Organ – 'Baby Face' Willette
Recorded By – Rudy Van Gelder

LOU DONALDSON - Gravy Train (1962-2007) RM | RVG Edition | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Gravy Train is a fine, if not quite exceptional record from Lou Donaldson's initial soul-jazz phase of the early '60s. Actually, given the title and the period in which it was recorded, the album isn't quite as greasy and funky overall as one might expect; most of the repertoire is devoted to pop ballads and mid-tempo standards, the latter of which tends to bring out more of the bop elements in Donaldson's playing. That's not true for the entire album, though; the title cut is a laid-back, conga-tinged, bluesy groover in the classic Donaldson mold, even if it's a bit workmanlike. Donaldson's longtime pianist, Herman Foster, is allotted quite a bit of solo space here, and he concentrates more on thick, rippling chords than single-note lines. For his part, Donaldson's playing is pleasant, and the rest of the supporting group maintains a steady groove throughout. All of Donaldson's sessions from this period (Here 'Tis, The Natural Soul, Good Gracious) have enough worthwhile moments for devoted fans, and that's true of Gravy Train as well, though casual fans probably won't find it necessary enough to track down. Steve Huey
Tracklist :
1    Gravy Train 8:11
Composed By – Lou Donaldson
2    South Of The Border 5:28
Composed By – J. Kennedy, M. Carr
3    Polka Dots And Moonbeams 4:56
Composed By – J. Burke-J. Van Heusen
4    Avalon 4:11
Composed By – A. Jolson, V. Rose
5    Candy 9:14
Composed By – Kramer, Whitney, David
6    Twist Time 6:43
Composed By – Lou Donaldson
7    Glory Of Love 4:00
Composed By – Billy Hill
8    Gravy Train (Alternate Take) 7:28
Composed By – Lou Donaldson
9    Glory Of Love (Alternate Take) 3:49
Composed By – Billy Hill
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Lou Donaldson
Bass – Ben Tucker
Congas – Alec Dorsey
Drums – Dave Bailey
Piano – Herman Foster
Recorded By, Remastered By [2007] – Rudy Van Gelder

LOU DONALDSON - The Natural Soul (1962-2003) RM | RVG Edition | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

The Natural Soul finds Lou Donaldson delving deeply into soul-jazz, recording a set of funky, greasy instrumentals with only a few references to hard bop. Donaldson occasionally sounds a little awkward with the relaxed groove of The Natural Soul, as does trumpeter Tommy Turrentine, but the trio of guitarist Grant Green, organist John Patton, and drummer Ben Dixon keep things cooking. Green and Patton's solos often burn and are always invigorating, and Lou frequently matches their heights. The original compositions -- which form the bulk of the album -- aren't much more than blues and soul vamps, but they provide an excellent foundation for the combo to work hot grooves. And, in the end, that's what The Natural Soul is about -- groove. It maintains the high standards Donaldson established with his first soul-jazz foray, Here 'Tis, and remains one of his best records in that genre. Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Tracklist :
1     Funky Mama 9'05
Big John Patton
2    Love Walked In 5'10
Composed By – George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
3    Spaceman Twist 5'35
Composed By – Lou Donaldson
4    Sow Belly Blues 10'11
Composed By – Lou Donaldson
5    That's All 5'33
Composed By – Alan Brandt, Bob Haymes
6    Nice 'N' Greasy 5'24
Composed By – Johnny Acea
7    People Will Say We're In Love 7'53
Composed By – Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Lou Donaldson
Drums – Ben Dixon
Guitar – Grant Green
Organ – John Patton
Recorded By, Remastered By [2002] – Rudy Van Gelder
Trumpet – Tommy Turrentine

LOU DONALDSON - "Good Gracious!" (1963-1997) RM | Blue Note Rare Groove Series | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Good Gracious may be Lou Donaldson's record, but guitarist Grant Green and organist John Patton steal the show. Working with a tight, soulful groove laid down by drummer Ben Dixon, the guitarist and organist trade hot lines that often steal the thunder from Donaldson, who nevertheless turns in a robust, tuneful performance. Donaldson's tone is richer and fuller than it is on many of his early-'60s records, and he really connects with the laid-back R&B grooves and soul-jazz vamps on Good Gracious, turning in melodic, memorable solos. However, Grant and Patton take the songs even further with their intense solos and fills; Patton, in particular, sounds on fire even when the tempo is mellow. Good Gracious still falls prey to some of the lazy tempos that pop up on most Lou Donaldson records, but it remains one of his finest soul-jazz sessions. Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Tracklist :
1     Bad John 8:16
Lou Donaldson    
2     The Holy Ghost 8:36
Lou Donaldson    
3     Cherry 5:15
Don Redman    
4     Caracas 7:17
Lou Donaldson    
5     Good Gracious 6:50
Lou Donaldson    
6     Don't Worry 'Bout Me
Rube Bloom / Ted Koehler
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Lou Donaldson
Drums – Ben Dixon
Engineer [Recording] – Rudy Van Gelder
Guitar – Grant Green
Organ – John Patton
Producer [Blue Note Rare Groove Series] – Michael Cuscuna, Tom Evered