LOU DONALDSON
Blues Walk (Blue Note)
Reviewed by Ron Saranich

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Lou Donaldson is an alto saxophone player who was strongly influenced at first by Charlie Parker; but with a more bluesy sound. His emphasis has been Bop and Soul-Jazz, which he helped launch in the 1960's. Donaldson has recorded with such greats as Art Blakey, Horace Silver, Thelonious Monk, Milt Jackson, Charles Mingus, and Clifford Brown.

Blues Walk is Donaldson's masterpiece. Recorded in 1958 with a band that now seems composed of relative unknowns, Donaldson produced a gem. Adding the congo player Ray Barretto to his existing band of Herman Foster on piano, "Peck" Morrison on bass, and David Baily on drums inspired Donaldson to a peek of inventive, yet sophisticated alto playing.

The first song is the title track. Donaldson attacked the beat with such passion and energy, it was obvious he had brought his "A" game to the studio. Wailing one hot, mysterious blues solo after another, Donaldson pursued the infectious beat laid down by his rhythm section. He never sounded short of creative ideas. By the time Donaldson romped through the Bop classic "Move" and begun playing a smoking, romantic version of "The Masquerade Is Over", I realized I was listening to a classic recording.

Donaldson later become too closely associated with Soul-Jazz, a genre he almost single-handedly help create with the groove based "Alligator Boogaloo". However, Blues Walk was pure Bop at its most enjoyable. Donaldson had a big, sweet tone on his alto and the Blues in his soul. Check out the results when a great musician articulates what he is feeling.

© 2000 - Ron Saranich