This release presents Lou Donaldson’s complete original LP "Here 'Tis", which marks the first of his six recording sessions with the brilliant guitarist Grant Green. The group is complemented by organist Baby Face Willette (with whom Donaldson would never record again), and drummer Dave Bailey. Also included here is a complete session recorded by Donaldson and Green shortly after in the same format, but this time with Brother Jack McDuff on organ (with whom the saxophonist would never collaborate again), and Joe Dukes on drums.
These sessions were recorded for Blue Note in 1961 and 1963. The first date features five cuts with Jack Mcduff on organ, Grant Green on guitar, and Joe Dukes on drums. The four remaining cuts were recorded two years later with John Patton on organ, Ben Dixon on drums, and the addition of Irvin Stokes on trumpet. This is a mainly mellow affair with six of the nine tracks exchanging the hard bop and soul-jazz of the times for ballads and slow blues. However, the occasional up-tempo funky surprise does pop up on "My Melancholy Baby" and the Donaldson originals "Hipty Hop" and "Soul Meetin'."
A soul survivor in every sense of the term, this alto saxophonist is one of the few remaining jazz artists who made a major impact on the jazz community via an extensive run with producer Alfred Lion and the Blue Note label (Horace Silver being another Blue Note legend that comes to mind). From his first recordings for the label with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, it was clear that Lou Donaldson put melody and sound at a premium, coming up with an amalgam that combined the creamy smoothness of Johnny Hodges with the quicksilver bop inflections of Charlie Parker.
This stunning edition features Lou Donaldson backed up by jazz legends as the Modern Jazz Quartet; Thelonius Monk, Max Roach & Kenny Dorham; Horace Silver, Gene Ramey & Art Taylor; Art Blakey, Blue Mitchell & Percy Heath on these highly inspired studio sessions. High Resolution - 24Bit Edition.
Swing and Soul is an album by jazz saxophonist Lou Donaldson recorded for the Blue Note label and performed by Donaldson's Quintet with Herman Foster, Peck Morrison, Dave Bailey, and Ray Barretto.
Alto sax master Lou Donaldson's entry to the Blue Note Artist Selects series includes a blend of originals and standards, with Hall of Fame lineups from various eras. Listening to this music, one can map the evolution of jazz in the context of his development as a musician. ~ AllAboutJazz