REUBEN WILSON — Blue Mode (1969-2014) RM | SHM-CD | Serie Blue Note The Masterworks | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

If Love Bug skirted the edges of free jazz and black power, Blue Mode embraces soul-jazz and Memphis funk in no uncertain terms. Opening with the cinematic, stuttering "Bambu" and running through a set of relaxed, funky grooves -- including covers of Eddie Floyd's "Knock on Wood" and Edwin Starr's "Twenty-Five Miles" -- Blue Mode isn't strictly a jazz album, but its gritty, jazzy vamps and urban soul-blues make it highly enjoyable. Reuben Wilson has a laid-back, friendly style and his supporting band -- tenor saxophonist John Manning, guitarist Melvin Sparks, and drummer Tommy Derrick -- demonstrate a similarly warm sense of tone. While none of them break through with any improvisations that would satiate hardcore jazz purists, they know how to work a groove, and that's what makes Blue Mode a winner. Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Tracklist :
1. Bambu (8:07)
2. Knock On Wood (6:11)
3. Bus Ride (6:12)
4. Orange Peel (6:39)
5. Twenty-Five Miles (7:14)
6. Blue Mode (7:25)
Personnel :
Drums – Tommy Derrick
Guitar – Melvin Sparks
Organ – Reuben Wilson
Tenor Saxophone – John Manning

LOU DONALDSON - Hot Dog (1969-1994) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

A wildly erratic slice of funky soul-jazz in keeping with Lou Donaldson's late-'60s commercial accessibility, Hot Dog isn't a total washout, but it's just as hit-and-miss as many of Donaldson's albums from the era (even if you are a fan of the style). The main sticking points are the contemporary R&B covers that open and close the album. "Who's Making Love" has an out-of-tune group vocal that fails to be charming in its amateurishness, and the funk of "It's Your Thing" sounds leaden and lifeless despite the best efforts of breakbeat legend Leo Morris (later Idris Muhammad) on drums. Take those away and Hot Dog would be a fairly decent effort. Also featuring guitarist Melvin Sparks, organist Charles Earland, and trumpeter Ed Williams, the ensemble really catches fire on "Turtle Walk," a Donaldson original where the groove sounds natural and helps push the soloists. The Donaldson-penned title cut also gets pretty funky, though the underlying vamp is a little insubstantial to stretch out over ten minutes. The Tommy Turrentine ballad "Bonnie" returns Donaldson to the sweet, romantic territory he's mined so well over the years. So Hot Dog does have some worthwhile moments; it's just a pity the overall finished product isn't more consistent -- the cover photo is great. Steve Huey
Tracklist :
1     Who's Making Love? 6:46
Homer Banks / Bettye Crutcher / Don Davis / Raymond Jackson
2     Turtle Walk 7:56
Lou Donaldson    
3     Bonnie 4:56
Tommy Turrentine    
4     Hot Dog 10:45
Denny Dedmon / Lou Donaldson / Buck Owens    
5     It's Your Thing 8:59
O'Kelly Isley / Ronald Isley / Rudolph Isley
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Lou Donaldson
Drums – Leo Morris
Guitar – Melvin Sparks
Organ – Charles Earland
Recorded By – Rudy Van Gelder
Trumpet – Ed Williams

LOU DONALDSON - The Scorpion (Live At The Cadillac Club) (1970-1995) Blue Note Rare Groove Series | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

This previously unreleased live set, which has been issued on Blue Note's Rare Groove Series, will bore anyone who listens closely. The repertoire is dominated by lengthy funk grooves that are quite danceable but never develop beyond the obvious. Altoist Lou Donaldson was using a baritone horn at the time that gave him a generic and unappealing tone, the obscure trumpeter Fred Ballard does his best to no avail and the enthusiastic rhythm section (guitarist Melvin Sparks, organist Leon Spencer, Jr., and drummer Idris Muhammad) keeps the grooves repetitious. Bob Porter's liner notes (which colorfully give readers the history of Newark jazz of the past 30 years) are superlative but, even with the inclusion of a fast blues, musically nothing much happens. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     The Scorpion 10:47
Leon Spencer    
2     Laura 5:55
Johnny Mercer / David Raksin
3     Alligator Boogaloo 13:15
Lou Donaldson
4     The Masquerade Is Over 4:15
Herbert Magidson / Allie Wrubel    
5     Peepin' 5:30     
Dr. Lonnie Smith    
6     Footpattin' Time 6:50
Lou Donaldson
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Lou Donaldson
Drums – Idris Muhammad
Guitar – Melvin Sparks
Organ – Leon Spencer Jr.
Recorded By – Rudy Van Gelder
Trumpet – Fred Ballard

LOU DONALDSON - Everything I Play Is Funky (1970-1995) Blue Note Rare Groove Series | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Although purists might not find it as much to their taste as Midnight Creeper, Everything I Play Is Funky is easily one of the best examples of Lou Donaldson's commercially accessible period of the late '60s and early '70s. Donaldson's forays into funk and R&B-driven soul-jazz could sometimes sound stiff, but the grooves here -- which feature many of the same players -- are consistently limber and unforced. And, typical of the style, the grooves (not adventurous improvisation) are what make the album tick. For once, Donaldson's attempt at an R&B cover -- in this case, the Lee Dorsey-sung, Allen Toussaint-penned "Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky (From Now On)" -- is pulled off well enough to make for an entirely convincing statement of purpose. That number kicks off an entertaining program also highlighted by three Donaldson originals -- the cooking funk number "Donkey Walk," which seems to inspire the fieriest solos on the record, the cheery calypso "West Indian Daddy," and the hard bop-flavored "Minor Bash." There's also a version of "Over the Rainbow" done in Donaldson's caressing, melodic ballad style, and the simple funk vamp "Hamp's Hump." It's a nicely varied assortment, all anchored by the percolating rhythm section of guitarist Melvin Sparks, bassist Jimmy Lewis, and drummer Idris Muhammad (Charles Earland and Dr. Lonnie Smith switch off on organ, and Blue Mitchell and Eddie Williams do the same on trumpet). This is the sort of record that modern-day Donaldson disciples like the Sugarman Three cherish, and one of his few truly consistent efforts in this style. Recommended wholeheartedly to funk and rare-groove fans. Steve Huey
Tracklist :
1. Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky (From Now On) 5'15
Allen Toussaint
2. Hamp's Hump 6'35
P. Hampton / Paul Hampton
3. Over The Rainbow 7'05
Harold Arlen / E.Y. "Yip" Harburg
4. Donkey Walk 6'32
Lou Donaldson
5. West Indian Daddy 6'22
Lou Donaldson
6. Minor Bash 6'08
Lou Donaldson
Credits :
Lou Donaldson - Alto Saxophone
Blue Mitchell - Trumpet (tracks 1-3, 6)
Eddie Williams - Trumpet (tracks 4,5)
Idris Muhammad - Drums
Melvin Sparks - Guitar
Jimmy Lewis - Bass Guitar
Charles Earland - Organ (tracks 4,5)
Lonnie Smith - Organ (tracka 1-3, 6)

LOU DONALDSON - Pretty Things (1970-1993) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Lou Donaldson has recorded many strong sessions throughout his career but this CD reissue brings back one of the less-significant ones. Organist Leon Spencer dominates the ensembles, the material is a bit trivial and the altoist/leader uses a baritone sax on some of the selections which makes him sound much less individual than usual. Trumpeter Blue Mitchell's solos and a fine closing jam on "Love" help upgrade the music a bit but there are many better Donaldson recordings to acquire first. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Tennessee Waltz 6:39
Pee Wee King / Redd Stewart    
2     Curtis' Song 5:48
L. Spencer Jr.    
3     Sassie Lassie 6:35    
H. Ousley
4     Just For a Thrill 5:28
Lil Hardin Armstrong / Don Raye    
5     Pot Belly 8:12
Lou Donaldson    
6     Love 6:04
Milt Gabler / Bert Kaempfert
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Lou Donaldson
Drums – Idris Muhammad
Electric Bass – Jimmy Lewis
Guitar – Melvin Sparks, Ted Dunbar
Organ – Leon Spencer, Jr., Lonnie Smith
Recorded By – Rudy Van Gelder
Trumpet – Blue Mitchell

LOU DONALDSON - Cosmos (1971-2014) RM | BLUE NOTE MASTERWORKS | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist:
1    The Caterpillar 6:50
Written-By – A. Ajhkeong, L. Donaldson
2    Make It With You 4:57
Written-By – D. Gates
3    If There's Hell Below (We're All Going To Go) 9:03
Written-By – C. Mayfield
4    Caracas 8:24
Written-By – L. Donaldson
5    I'll Be There 5:24
Written-By – B. Gordy, Jr., B. West, H. Davis, W. Hutch
6    When You're Smiling - The Whole World Smiles With You 5:18
Written-By – J. Goodwin, L. Shay, M. Fisher
Credits:
Arranged By [Vocals] – Jimmy Briggs
Bass [Electric] – Jerry Jemmott
Congas – Ray Armando
Drums – Idris Muhammad
Guitar – Melvin Sparks
Organ, Bass [Electric] – Leon Spencer
Recorded By – Rudy Van Gelder
Saxophone [Alto] – Lou Donaldson
Trumpet – Ed Williams
Vocals – Essence, Mildred Brown, Naomi Thomas, Rosalyn Brown

 

LOU DONALDSON - Blue Breakbeats (1998) APE (image+.cue), lossless

Back in 1998, Blue Note came out with a series of little 35- to 45-minute "Breakbeats" samplers taken from the thick, rich catalogs of Bobbi Humphrey, Grant Green, Reuben Wilson, Lee Morgan, Donald Byrd, and Lou Donaldson. What you get on this particular volume are six very enjoyable examples of Lou Donaldson's best jazz-funk grooves harvested from the golden formative years of this well-loved style (1963-1970). The collective personnel is pretty wicked, and includes Blue Mitchell, Melvin Sparks, Grant Green, Charles Earland, and Idris Muhammad. As usual, the background for the music is way bigger and runs much deeper than many folks realize. Anyone who has gone back and assessed Donaldson's entire career knows that he was one of the few alto players who didn't switch to tenor in the shadow of Charlie Parker during the 1950s. Donaldson's chops were always as formidable as Bird's or Earl Bostic's, James Moody's or Cannonball Adderley's. His recorded legacy is a lot more diverse than you would imagine if all you went by were the funky tracks that have since been lucratively "legitimated" by the recording industry in response to the sampling habits of a whole generation of DJ mixologists. Not to complain -- it's very cool that Lou Donaldson's funk-jazz is getting reissued and is being enjoyed by people young enough to be his great-grandchildren. It's just that it would be awfully nice if more people were aware of the considerable stylistic range of his music. The root system of these "Breakbeats" exists in the amazing and to some extent overlooked records that Lou Donaldson made between 1952 and 1963. For maximum enjoyment and fulfillment, get some context for the funk and you'll enjoy it like never before. arwulf arwulf  
Tracklist :
1     Turtle Walk 7:54
Lou Donaldson
Drums - Idris Muhammad   
Trumpet – Ed Williams
Organ – Charles Earland
Guitar – Melvin Sparks
Alto Saxophone – Lou Donaldson
2     Brother Soul 8:13
Lou Donaldson / Leon Spencer
Drums - Idris Muhammad   
Trumpet – Blue Mitchell
Organ – Charles Earland
Alto Saxophone – Lou Donaldson
Guitar – Jimmy Ponder
3     Minor Bash 6:08
Lou Donaldson   
Organ – Dr. Lonnie Smith
Drums - Idris Muhammad
Trumpet – Blue Mitchell
Guitar – Melvin Sparks
Alto Saxophone – Lou Donaldson
4     Pot Belly 8:05
Lou Donaldson   
Drums - Idris Muhammad
Trumpet – Blue Mitchell
Organ – Leon Spencer, Jr.
Alto Saxophone – Lou Donaldson
Guitar – Ted Dunbar
5     One Cylinder 6:45
Freddie McCoy
Drums - Idris Muhammad   
Alto Saxophone – Lou Donaldson
Guitar – George Benson
Trumpet – Melvin Lastie
Organ – Dr. Lonnie Smith
6     Caracas 7:19
Lou Donaldson
Drums – Ben Dixon
Organ – John Patton
Alto Saxophone – Lou Donaldson
Guitar – Grant Green

HANK CRAWFORD - Indigo Blue (1983-1991) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Hank Crawford's Indigo Blue was released in August of 1983, less than a year after his excellent comeback set, Midnight Ramble, and proves that his renewed sense of creativity was no fluke. Here he teams once more with Dr. John on piano and organ and drummer Bernard Purdie. Melvin Sparks took over the guitar chair from Calvin Newborn, and Wilber Bascombe, Jr. holds down the rhythm section on bass. In addition, a horn section that includes David "Fathead" Newman, Danny Moore, Howard Johnson, and Martin Banks, arranged by Crawford, follows the same recipe as Midnight Ramble. The performances here are solid, truly impressive. Crawford plays sweet and slow as well as honking mean in getting at the root source of straight-ahead jazz and soul-jazz: the blues. And speaking of blues, the opener, "All Alone and Blue," is a barrelhouse of nasty guitar and organ work with Crawford's alto walking the bar while playing a mean solo. It's quite a changeup to open a set with -- but the only other thing you could do is close with it. This is followed by a gorgeous reading of Ray Noble's "The Very Thought of You," all slow, deep, and refined with only Crawford's alto allowed to bring in the edges. But there are more surprises as Crawford and band tackle Willie Nelson's "Funny" and reveal both the blues and jazz roots in the tune. The swing between Dr. John and Sparks in the title track is truly canny, and Crawford's response in blowing shows it. This one is in the cut, and the groove is everywhere. The bittersweet ballad "Just for a Thrill" ends the set, with some of the sweetest and most lyrical piano and alto playing either man had done on a record until that time. Indigo Blue is a winner; it's hungry and elegant, sophisticated and swaggering. It's a trademark recording by Hank Crawford. by Thom Jurek 
Tracklist:
1 All Alone And Blue
2 The Very Thought Of You
3 Things Ain't What They Used To Be
4 Funny
5 Indigo Blue
6 Just For A Thrill
Credits:
Alto Saxophone, Electric Piano – Hank Crawford
Baritone Saxophone – Howard Johnson
Bass – Wilbur Bascomb
Drums – Bernard Purdie
Guitar – Melvin Sparks
Piano, Organ – Dr. John
Tenor Saxophone – David "Fathead" Newman

Trumpet – Danny Moore, Martin Banks