Rest In Peace, Lou Donaldson (1926 - 2024)

 
Lou Donaldson, died on November 9th, he was 98.

Known as "Sweet Poppa Lou", he blended the lyricism of swing-era saxophonist Johnny Hodges with the quick-fingered velocity of Charlie Parker. Lou cut his teeth playing as a sideman to bebop heavyweights like Milt Jackson, Thelonious Monk, and Art Blakey in the 1950s.

Lou recorded 50 albums he recorded between 1952 and 1999, many of them for the iconic Blue Note label, that would bring him greater renown.

Today we are celebrating the life of "Sweet Poppa Lou" with two freeloads.

'The Complete Blue Note Lou Donaldson Sessions 1957-60' is a 6CD set from Mosaic Records, which was released in 2002. The albums included in the box 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'
• 'Midnight Sun'

The majority of this 6CD set covers the type of bebop, that is the core of Donaldson's musical persona. While much of this material has been available previously on CD, and there are a few tracks that could only be found previously on Japanese imports, the audio upgrade is noticeable and typical of Mosaic Records.

The Performers
Along with Lou Donaldson's alto saxophone are (variously):
Donald Byrd, Blue Mitchell, Bill Hardman, on trumpet. Herman Foster, Sonny Clark, Gene Harris, Horace Parlan, on piano. Peck Morrison, Jamil Nasser (George Joyner), Andrew Simpkins, Laymon Jackson, Sam Jones, George Tucker, Ben Tucker, on bass. Curtis Fuller on trombone. Art Taylor, Dave Bailey, Jimmy Wormsworth, Bill Dowdy, Al Harewood, on drums. Ray Barretto, Alec Dorsey on conga.

The set was mastered by Ron McMaster (great name, right?) using 24-bit analog-to-digital resolution.

The cover screams 1967. It was designed and photographed by Reid Miles.  The model is Peggy Moffitt.

'Alligator Bogaloo' was recorded in 1967 on the Blue Note label. This record was a ground-breaking combination of jazz, funk, and blues that would become the most commercially successful record of his career. It has an infectious, danceable sound along with that of other records he made during the same era that would experience a second life on numerous hip-hop albums years later, sampled by Kanye West, De La Soul and many others.

Along with Lou Donaldson's alto saxophone are:

Melvin Lastie on cornet
Lonnie Smith on Hammond organ
George Benson on guitar
Leo Morris (who would become, Idris Muhammad) on drums

The freeload is 24-Bit 176.4kHz vinyl rip of my pristine copy of 'Alligator Bogaloo', re-issue from 2019, and part of the Blue Note 80 Vinyl Reissue Series.

I'm raising a glass (or three) to Lou Donaldson. For both freeloads, tell us about your favorite drink (alcoholic or otherwise)