Lou Donaldson - A Man With A Horn
Released - 1999
Recording and Session Information
Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, September 25, 1961
Lou Donaldson, alto sax; Jack McDuff, organ; Grant Green, guitar; Joe Dukes, drums.
tk.2 Please
tk.11 Prisoner Of Love
tk.12 The Man With A Horn
tk.20 Star Dust
tk.21 Misty
Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, June 7, 1963
Irvin Stokes, trumpet #1-4,6; Lou Donaldson, alto sax; John Patton, organ; Grant Green, guitar; Ben Dixon, drums.
tk.3 It's Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White
tk.9 Soul Meetin'
tk.10 Hipty Hop
tk.20 My Melancholy Baby
Additional Session Information
Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, September 25, 1961
Lou Donaldson, alto sax; Jack McDuff, organ; Grant Green, guitar; Joe Dukes, drums.
tk.2 Please
tk.9 People Will Say We're In Love rejected
tk.11 Prisoner Of Love
tk.12 The Man With A Horn
Trees rejected
tk.20 Star Dust
tk.21 Misty
Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, June 7, 1963
Irvin Stokes, trumpet #1-4,6; Lou Donaldson, alto sax; John Patton, organ; Grant Green, guitar; Ben Dixon, drums.
tk.3 It's Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White
tk.9 Soul Meetin'
tk.10 Hipty Hop
tk.20 My Melancholy Baby
tk.22 When I Fall In Love rejected
tk.24 People Will Say We're In Love rejected
Track Listing
| Title | Author | Recording Date |
| Misty | Erroll Garner | September 25 1961 |
| Hipty Hop | Lou Donaldson | June 7 1963 |
| Please | L. Robin-R. Rainger | September 25 1961 |
| My Melancholy Baby | E. Burnett-G. Norton | June 7 1963 |
| Man With A Horn | Lake-De Lange-Jenney | September 25 1961 |
| Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White | Louigay-M. David | June 7 1963 |
| Prisoner Of Love | Caskill-Robin-Colombo | September 25 1961 |
| Soul Meetin' | Lou Donaldson | June 7 1963 |
| Star Dust | H. Carmichael-M. Parish | September 25 1961 |
Liner Notes
LOU DONALDSON's alto playing has always possessed a naturally soulful sound to my ears. Del Shields's liners on the album The Natural Soul lauded Lou's playing by saying, "Blue Note's most consistent contributor to happy jazz is Lou Donaldson. Very few record companies can compare with Blue Note's recording history for swinging, earthy, funky and soulful jazz." Garnering all the accolades and props for Blue Note's outstanding efforts is nonpareil: Lou Donaldson, The Man With The Horn.
Lou once told a writer that he didn't smoke or drink, even when he was in the army where everyone did. He's just clean and pure like his horn playing. His sound is unmistakable. This CD is drawn from the best of two sessions made in 1961 and 1963. The '61 group was Grant Green, guitar, Jack McDuff, organ, and Joe Dukes on drums. Lou had just introduced Grant to Blue Note and he was immediately signed on as house guitarist. McDuff, Prestige artist, makes a rare Blue Note appearance on this essentially ballad session. The late Dukes was the organist's drummer for many years.
The '63 group is made up of one of the great Blue Note rhythm sections: Grant Green, guitar, John Patton, organ, and Ben Dixon, drums as well as Irvin Stokes on trumpet. See if you can distinguish Bro. Jack from Big John, or Dukes from Dixon. Oh, yes! There are discriminating differences that you'll enjoy. Irvin Stokes from Greensboro, N.C. is a big band trumpeter who played in the bands of Tiny Bradshaw, Andy Kirk, Buddy Johnson, Jimmie Lunceford, and Duke Ellington in the '50s. On this session, Stokes sometimes uses the muted growls noted for the Ellington band; his trumpet brings to mind Blue Mitchell. He's played with Lou on various occasions ever since and was a member of Panama Francis's Savoy Sultans from 1979 through the mid-eighties. He gives a lot of energy to this session.
Our hats have to be tipped to Lou who followed in the footsteps of Blakey in bringing young cats to Blue Note and incorporating them into his bands. Blue Mitchell, Horace Silver, Grant Green, John Patton and Idris Muhammad have to be the most illustrious. Certainly, Grant will be the unchallenged "Guinness Book Record Holder" as Blue Note's most recorded guitarist.
The nine gemstones on this CD are an eclectic compilation of composers ranging from Hoagy Carmichael to Erroll Garner to Lou Donaldson. And even though six are most recognized as ballads, be prepared for some surprises and some jump, stomp, and gospel-funkiness. Garner's "Misty" in a ballad mode showcases Lou, Bro. Jack, and Grant in that order. Their nuances are mellow, and beautiful sounds of mist to the ears. Dukes's airy cymbals persist throughout. "Hipty Hop" is an up-tempo blues with Irvin squawking his muted growls of funk on trumpet as Patton struts his stuff and takes off after Lou lights the fuse. Lou comes back with an acappella answer, then Grant hip hops his spot. It really jumps. The sultry "Please" reminds me of Etta Jones's "Don't Go To Strangers." Lou, Grant and Jack all play with fervor on this ballad. "My Melancholy Baby" jumps, swings and sways with Lou, Grant and Big John stroking and striking their hip statements. Irvin comes in firmly and yields to Patton who pipes and chords back to Lou who takes us home. "Man With A Horn" was Ray Anthony's theme song. Lou leads this beautiful piece and the group underscores superbly. "Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White" is a cha cha with Irvin leading on trumpet after Lou's intro. Dixon paces nicely on snare rims as Grant contributes a lively solo as Big John comps in a samba mood. Russ Colombo's "Prisoner Of Love" was a hit for Billy Eckstine in the forties. But at the time of this recording, it was on the charts by James Brown and The Famous Flames. Lou gives it a slow, bluesy treatment, "Soul Meeting" is sanctified swing. Everyone's testifying. Listen to Lou with Patton underneath. Stokes gets in his mini-sermon and Grant gives the benediction. This is a Reverend's summit meeting.
"Star Dust" always brings to mind Lionel Hampton and the all-stars first live rendition at JATP in Pasadena, 1947. I'm sure Hoagy would have loved this interpretation by Lou and Grant. They play as if they were stardust floating through the galaxy. This is a gem.
Throughout his recording career, Lou has taken us on a Blues Walk, ridden the Gravy Train, played with Natural Soul, been the Midnight Creeper and done the Alligator Boogaloo. If you want funkiness or lushness, Lou Donaldson is The Man With The Horn.
—ED HAMILTON, 1999
Author of The Jazz Bass Cleff
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