{"title":"Lou Donaldson","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLou Donaldson is an American jazz saxophonist, composer, and band leader. Born on November 1, 1926 in Badin, North Carolina, United States, he has made significant contributions to the world of jazz music.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eKnown for his soulful and melodic style of playing the saxophone, Lou Donaldson has captivated audiences with his unique sound. He has collaborated with renowned artists such as *Stanley Turrentine*, *Blue Mitchell*, *Kenny Dorham*, and many others.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith a career spanning several decades, Lou Donaldson has released numerous albums as both a bandleader and a sideman. His compositions showcase his talent for creating memorable melodies that resonate with listeners.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"mr-shing-a-ling","title":"Mr Shing-A-Ling","description":"\u003cp\u003eRecorded in 1967, \u003ci\u003eMr. Shing-A-Ling\u003c\/i\u003e features Donaldson (alto sax) with Blue Mitchell (trumpet), Lonnie Smith (organ), Jimmy Ponder (guitar), and Leo Morris (drums), who is better known as Idris Muhammad. Funky grinding Hammond organ with Donaldson’s magical sax, the album is in a classic Blue Note 1960’s groove where they cover \u003ci\u003eOde To Billie Joe, Peepin’, The Kid\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eThe Shadow Of Your Smile\u003c\/i\u003e, as well as Donaldson penned originals.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Blue Note","offers":[{"title":"Black LP.","offer_id":50382087127371,"sku":"297022","price":36.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/ec980910-72d0-4d8e-9af6-08dd3b1e9656_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726241848"},{"product_id":"midnight-creeper","title":"Midnight Creeper","description":"\u003cp\u003eAs 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.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"No Label","offers":[{"title":"Black | LP.","offer_id":50382092173643,"sku":"1074969","price":13.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/8934bb5d-26ef-45b4-8b51-29b5aaef20cf_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726241908"},{"product_id":"blues-walk","title":"Blues Walk","description":"\u003cp\u003eLou Donaldson had already helmed seven Blue Note sessions by the time he made his undisputed masterpiece Blues Walk in 1958. Joining the saxophonist were Herman Foster on piano, Peck Morrison on bass, Dave Bailey on drums, and Ray Barretto on congas for a six-song set that yielded one of his most memorable themes with the cool struttin’ title track.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis Blue Note Classic Vinyl Edition is stereo, all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes, and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Blue Note","offers":[{"title":"Black | LP","offer_id":50382464581963,"sku":"1152869","price":27.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":51151565029707,"sku":"2241194","price":16.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/20a31e5b-13b2-49e5-8516-f2721f125a8a_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726250699"},{"product_id":"everything-i-play-is-funky","title":"Everything I Play Is Funky","description":"\u003cp\u003eAlthough purists might not find it as much to their taste as Midnight Creeper, Everything I Play Is Funky is easily one of the best examples of Lou Donaldson's commercially accessible period of the late '60s and early '70s. Donaldson's forays into funk and R\u0026amp;B-driven soul-jazz could sometimes sound stiff, but the grooves here -- which feature many of the same players -- are consistently limber and unforced. And, typical of the style, the grooves (not adventurous improvisation) are what make the album tick. For once, Donaldson's attempt at an R\u0026amp;B cover -- in this case, the Lee Dorsey-sung, Allen Toussaint-penned \"Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky (From Now On)\" -- is pulled off well enough to make for an entirely convincing statement of purpose. That number kicks off an entertaining program also highlighted by three Donaldson originals -- the cooking funk number \"Donkey Walk,\" which seems to inspire the fieriest solos on the record, the cheery calypso \"West Indian Daddy,\" and the hard bop-flavored \"Minor Bash.\" There's also a version of \"Over the Rainbow\" done in Donaldson's caressing, melodic ballad style, and the simple funk vamp \"Hamp's Hump.\" It's a nicely varied assortment, all anchored by the percolating rhythm section of guitarist Melvin Sparks, bassist Jimmy Lewis, and drummer Idris Muhammad (Charles Earland and Dr. Lonnie Smith switch off on organ, and Blue Mitchell and Eddie Williams do the same on trumpet). This is the sort of record that modern-day Donaldson disciples like the Sugarman Three cherish, and one of his few truly consistent efforts in this style. Recommended wholeheartedly to funk and rare-groove fans.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Blue Note","offers":[{"title":"Black | LP","offer_id":50448978313547,"sku":"1071258","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/8d712b49-439c-48b2-8d5f-51ccb1429739_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727098035"},{"product_id":"midnight-creeper-tone-poet","title":"Midnight Creeper (Tone Poet)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eMidnight Creeper\u003c\/i\u003e was the third in a series of stellar soul jazz outings saxophonist Lou Donaldson made for Blue Note in the late-1960s with key players including Hammond B3 organ virtuoso Lonnie Smith, young guitar star George Benson, funky drummer Idris Muhammad, and the bluesy trumpeter Blue Mitchell. This stereo Tone Poet Vinyl Edition was produced by Joe Harley, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original analog master tapes, pressed on 180g vinyl at RTI, and packaged in a deluxe tip-on jacket.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Blue Note","offers":[{"title":"LP - Black","offer_id":50520809046347,"sku":"2167994","price":42.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":51496353595723,"sku":"R2201-8198","price":17.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/Midnight_Creeper_f0086edb_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727986540"},{"product_id":"alligator-bogaloo","title":"Alligator Bogaloo","description":"\u003cp\u003eA truly landmark LP in jazz, funk and hip hop history! Blue Note stalwart Lou Donaldson returned to the label and cut the stone cold classic \u003ci\u003eAlligator Bogaloo\u003c\/i\u003e with a young Idris Muhammad on the traps, resulting in one of the most important funky jazz sets ever recorded. The cracking drumming propels these grooves, and Donaldson, onto another planet.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Verve","offers":[{"title":"LP","offer_id":50920762835275,"sku":"323392","price":27.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/b08b2402-b026-4af5-9cc8-f9beb604221f_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1733163194"},{"product_id":"say-it-loud-classic-vinyl","title":"Say It Loud (Classic Vinyl)","description":"\u003cp\u003eWhen saxophonist Lou Donaldson hooked up with the funky drummer Idris Muhammad on Alligator Bogaloo it began a run of great groove-oriented albums including \u003ci\u003eSay It Loud\u003c\/i\u003e with trumpeter Blue Mitchell, organist Charles Earland, and guitarist Jimmy Ponder for a deeply soulful set opening with a cover of James Brown’s ‘Say It Loud (I’m Black and I’m Proud)’. This Blue Note Classic Vinyl Edition is stereo, all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes, and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"No Label","offers":[{"title":"Black LP","offer_id":51167830475083,"sku":"2241593","price":32.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/Say_It_Loud_faae8422_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1738005399"},{"product_id":"sunny-side-up","title":"Sunny Side Up","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eSunny Side Up\u003c\/i\u003e catches \u003cb\u003eLou Donaldson\u003c\/b\u003e in peak Blue Note hard bop form, delivering a warm, swinging set of standards and bluesy originals with real feeling and easy groove. It is a deeply satisfying 1960 session that still sounds fresh, loose, and beautifully locked in.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe quintet features \u003cb\u003eBill Hardman\u003c\/b\u003e on trumpet, \u003cb\u003eHorace Parlan\u003c\/b\u003e on piano, bassists \u003cb\u003eSam Jones\u003c\/b\u003e and \u003cb\u003eLaymon Jackson\u003c\/b\u003e, and drummer \u003cb\u003eAl Harewood\u003c\/b\u003e. This Blue Note Classic Vinyl Edition is stereo, all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes, and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Universal","offers":[{"title":"LP - Black","offer_id":58218166419787,"sku":"R3034-4531","price":29.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/2000x2000bb_bd93c9cf-c7cd-439d-92c0-9e30b10f23df.jpg?v=1787325726"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/collections\/test_1b66c943_thumbnail_4096_b5a365ff-4d6d-4405-9aa5-1a6d293d780a.jpg?v=1726241830","url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/fr\/collections\/lou-donaldson.oembed","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}