Lou Donaldson - Gravy Train (1961) (RVG)

Lou Donaldson - Gravy Train (1961)

jazz | 1cd | eac-flac-cue-log-cover | 400MB

Blue Note | RVG 24-bit remaster 2007

Allmusic:
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.

Tracks
-1. "Gravy Train" - 8:14
-2. "South of the Border" (Michael Carr, Jimmy Kennedy) - 5:31
-3. "Polka Dots and Moonbeams" (Johnny Burke, James Van Heusen) - 4:59
-4. "Avalon" (Buddy DeSylva, Al Jolson, Vincent Rose) - 4:15
-5. "Candy" (Mack David, Alex Kramer, Joan Whitney) - 9:18
-6. "Twist Time" - 6:47
-7. "Glory of Love" (Billy Hill) - 4:04
-8. "Gravy Train" [alternate take] - 7:30 Bonus track on CD
-9. "Glory of Love" [alternate take] (Hill) - 3:49 Bonus track on CD
All compositions by Lou Donaldson except as indicated
Recorded at Rudy Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ on April 27, 1961.

Personnel
* Lou Donaldson - alto saxophone
* Herman Foster - piano
* Ben Tucker - bass
* Dave Bailey - drums
* Alec Dorsey - congas (tracks 1, 2 & 4-9)

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Lou Donaldson - The Midnight Creeper (1968) (eac-log-cover)

Lou Donaldson - The Midnight Creeper (1968)

jazz | 1cd | eac-flac-cue-log-cover | 250MB

BN | 24-bit rem | rar +5% recovery

AMG:
As he delved deeper into commercial soul-jazz and jazz-funk, Lou Donaldson became better at it. While lacking the bite of his hard bop improvisations or the hard-swinging funk of Alligator Bogaloo, Midnight Creeper succeeds where its predecessor, Mr. Shing-A-Ling failed: it offers a thoroughly enjoyable set of grooving, funky soul-jazz. The five songs -- including two originals by Donaldson and one each by Lonnie Smith (who also plays organ on the record), Teddy Vann, and Harold Ousley -- aren't particularly distinguished, but the vibe is important, not the material. And the band -- Donaldson, Smith, trumpeter Blue Mitchell, guitarist George Benson, and drummer Leo Morris -- strikes the right note, turning in a fluid, friendly collection of bluesy funk vamps. Donaldson could frequently sound stilted on his commercial soul-jazz dates, but that's not the case with Midnight Creeper. He rarely was quite as loose on his late-'60s/early-'70s records as he is here, and that's what makes Midnight Creeper a keeper.

Tracks:
-01. Midnight Creeper (06:32)
-02. Love Power (07:46)
-03. Elizabeth (05:37)
-04. Bag of Jawels (09:44)
-05. Dapper Dan (06:30)

Personnel:
Lou Donaldson (alto saxophone)
Blue Mitchell (trumpet)
Lonnie Smith (organ)
George Benson (guitar)
Idris Muhammad (drums)

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Lou Donaldson - The Scorpion_Live At The Cadillac Club (1970) (eac-flac-cover)

Lou Donaldson - The Scorpion_Live At The Cadillac Club (1970)

jazz | 1cd | eac-flac-cue-log-cover | cover | 310MB

Blue Note Rare Groove | rar +5% recovery

AMG:
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.

Tracks:
The Scorpion -10:47
Laura -5:55
Alligator Boogaloo -13:15
The Masquerade Is Over -4:15
Peepin' -5:30
Footpattin' Time -6:50
* Recorded at the Cadillac Club, Newark, NJ on November 7, 1970.

Personnel:
* Lou Donaldson - varitone alto saxophone, vocals
* Fred Ballard - trumpet
* Leon Spencer - organ
* Melvin Sparks - guitar
* Idris Muhammad - drums

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Lou Donaldson - Lush Life (RVG) (1967) (eac-flac-cover)

Lou Donaldson - Lush Life (RVG) (1967)

jazz | 1cd | eac-flac-cue-log-cover | 240MB

RVG 2006 remaster | rar +5% recovery

AMG:
After brief sojourns at Argo and Cadet, Lou Donaldson marked his 1967 return by recording Lush Life, the grandest project he ever attempted. With its plush arrangements and unabashedly pretty melodies, Lush Life stands in stark contrast to everything else he cut in the '60s. There are no blues, no stabs at soul-jazz grooves, no hard bop -- only sweet, sensitive renditions of romantic standards. Donaldson shone on ballads before, but it's nevertheless surprising how successful he is on this set of slow love songs. His tone is full and elegant -- it's easy to get lost in his rich readings of these familiar melodies, as well as his slyly seductive improvisations. Of course, it helps that his instrumental backdrops are as lovely as those his nine-piece backing band provide. Nonets are unwieldy, to be certain, but Duke Pearson's arrangements are clean, sparkling, and attractive, and the superstar band -- Wayne Shorter (tenor sax), Jerry Dodgion (alto sax, flute), Pepper Adams (bari sax), Freddie Hubbard (trumpet), Garnett Brown (trombone), McCoy Tyner (piano), Ron Carter (bass), Al Harewood (drums) -- knows enough to provide sympathetic support and not steal the show. When they do take solos, it enhances Donaldson's original statements, and helps make Lush Life the singularly enchanting record it is.

Tracks:
1. "Sweet Slumber" - 5:56
2. "You've Changed" - 4:23
3. "The Good Life" - 4:53
4. "Stardust" - 3:40
5. "What Will I Tell My Heart" - 4:25
6. "It Might as Well Be Spring" - 5:58
7. "Sweet and Lovely" - 5:58 Bonus track on CD
* Recorded at Rudy Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ on January 20, 1967.

Personnel:
* Lou Donaldson - alto saxophone
* Freddie Hubbard - trumpet
* Garnett Brown - trombone
* Jerry Dodgion - alto saxophone flute
* Wayne Shorter - tenor saxophone
* Pepper Adams - baritone saxophone
* McCoy Tyner - piano
* Ron Carter - bass
* Al Harewood - drums
* Duke Pearson - arranger

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