Lou Donaldson at His Best

Untitled

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic

Lou Donaldson at His Best is an album by jazz saxophonist Lou Donaldson recorded for the Cadet label in 1966 and performed by Donaldson with Bill Hardman, Billy Gardner, Calvin Newborn and Grady Tate. Day by Day and Be Anything But Be Mine are rarely played but immediately likable standards. Any criticism of this album should be directed at the sequencing, perhaps the solo order and the necessity of a guitar player.

Reception

The album was awarded 3 stars in an Allmusic review by Jason Ankeny who states "The title At His Best portends some kind of career overview, but in fact it's an all new session heralding the end of Lou Donaldson's tenure with the Cadet label. Moreover, it comes nowhere close to capturing the saxophonist at his most potent, settling for a rigid, disappointingly straightforward soul-jazz approach with few sparks of energy".

Track listing

All compositions by Lou Donaldson except as indicated

1. "Win, Lose or Draw"
2. "Tangerine" (Johnny Mercer, Victor Schertzinger)
3. "Blues No. 3"
4. "Wig Blues"
5. "Day by Day" (Sammy Cahn, Axel Stordahl, Paul Weston)
6. "Greasy Papa"
7. "Be Anything (but Be Mine)" (Irving Gordon)

• Recorded in RCA Studios, New York City on August 30, 1966.

Personnel

• Lou Donaldson - alto saxophone
• Bill Hardman - trumpet
• Billy Gardner - Hammond B-3 organ
• Calvin Newborn - guitar
• Grady Tate - drums