Lou Donaldson
| Lou Donaldson | |
|---|---|
 Lou Donaldson checking out a Mike LeDonne solo |
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| Background information | |
| Born | November 1, 1926 |
| Origin | Badin, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Genres | Bebop, hard bop, jazz blues, soul jazz |
| Occupations | Bandleader, composer, saxophonist |
| Instruments | Alto saxophone |
| Years active | 1952–present |
| Associated acts | Milt Jackson, Clifford Brown, Art Blakey, Jimmy Smith, Lonnie Smith |
Lou Donaldson (born November 1, 1926) is a jazz alto saxophonist. He was born in Badin, North Carolina. He is best known for his soulful, bluesy approach to playing the alto saxophone, although in his formative years he was, as many were of the bebop era, heavily influenced by Charlie Parker.[1]
His first recordings were with the Charlie Singleton Orchestra in 1950[2] and then with bop emissaries Milt Jackson and Thelonious Monk in 1952,[3] and he participated in several small groups with other jazz luminaries such as trumpeter Blue Mitchell, pianist Horace Silver, and drummer Art Blakey.[1]
In 1953, he also recorded sessions with the trumpet virtuoso Clifford Brown, and Philly Joe Jones. He was a member of Art Blakey's Quintet and appeared on some of their best regarded albums, including the two albums recorded at Birdland in February 1954 Night at Birdland.
He has recorded in the bop, hard bop, and soul jazz genres. For many years his pianist was Herman Foster.
Contents |
[edit] Discography
[edit] As leader
- 1952: Quartet/Quintet/Sextet
- 1957: Wailing with Lou
- 1957: Swing and Soul
- 1957: Jimmy Smith Trio + LD
- 1957: Lou Takes Off
- 1958: Blues Walk
- 1958: Light-Foot
- 1959: LD + 3
- 1959: The Time is Right
- 1960: Sunny Side Up
- 1960: Midnight Sun
- 1961: Here 'Tis
- 1961: Gravy Train
- 1961: A Man with a Horn
- 1962: The Natural Soul
- 1963: Good Gracious!
- 1963: Signifyin'
- 1964: Possum Head
- 1964: Cole Slaw
- 1964: Rough House Blues
- 1965: Musty Rusty
- 1965: Fried Buzzard
- 1966: Blowing in the Wind
- 1966: Lou Donaldson At His Best
- 1967: Lush Life
- 1967: Alligator Bogaloo
- 1967: Mr. Shing-A-Ling
- 1968: Midnight Creeper
- 1968: Say It Loud!
- 1969: Hot Dog
- 1970: Everything I Play is Funky
- 1970: Pretty Things
- 1970: The Scorpion
- 1971: Cosmos
- 1972: Sophisticated Lou
- 1973: Sassy Soul Strut
- 1974: Sweet Lou
- 1976: A Different Scene
- 1976: Color as a Way of Life
- 1981: Sweet Poppa Lou
- 1981: Forgotten Man
- 1982: Back Street
- 1984: Live in Bologna
- 1990: Play the Right Thing
- 1992: Birdseed
- 1993: Caracas
- 1995: Sentimental Journey
- 2000: Relaxing at Sea: Live on the QE2
[edit] Compilations
- 1994: The Righteous Reed! The Best of Poppa Lou
- 1996: The Best of Lou Donaldson, Vol. 2 The Blue Note Years.
- 1998: Blue Breakbeats
[edit] As sideman
With Clifford Brown
- Memorial Album (Blue Note, 1953)
With Milt Jackson
- All Star Bags (Prestige, 1953)
With Thelonious Monk
- Genius of Modern Music (Blue Note, 1952)
With Miles Davis
- Bags' Groove (Prestige, 1954)
With Art Blakey
- A Night at Birdland Vol. 1 (Blue Note, 1954)
- A Night at Birdland Vol. 2 (Blue Note, 1954)
- A Night at Birdland Vol. 3 (Blue Note, 1954)
With Jimmy Smith
- A Date with Jimmy Smith Volume One (Blue Note, 1957)
- A Date with Jimmy Smith Volume Two (Blue Note, 1957)
- House Party (Blue Note, 1958)
- The Sermon! (Blue Note, 1958)
- Cool Blues (Blue Note, 1958)
- Rockin' the Boat (Blue Note, 1963)
[edit] References
- ^ a b Allmusic Biography
- ^ Lord, Tom. "The Jazz Discography". http://www.lordisco.com.[page needed](subscription required)
- ^ "The Hard Bop Homepage". http://hardbop.tripod.com/loudon.html.
