Lou Donaldson - Say It Loud !

Year : 1969
Label : Blue Note
Genre : Jazz
Style : Soul Jazz

More pop language for Lou Donaldson, using the varitone process, an amplification system for saxophone. Lou Donaldson Quintet featuring Charles Earland, Blue Mitchell, Jimmy Ponder, and his sideman, Idris Muhammad, play under the Blues/Boogie mode, making of "Say It Loud!" one of his funkiest album. The first side is devoted to covers songs including the opening track, the iconic protest song of James Brown and two great jazz standards, "Summertime" revisited in a latin variation and "Caravan", while the other side consists on two originals (Snake Bone, Brother Soul) composed by Lou Donaldson.

MUSICIANS : Lou Donaldson - alto saxophone - Blue Mitchell - trumpet - Charles Earland - organ - Jimmy Ponder - guitar - Idris Muhammad - drums

Lou Donaldson - Alligator Bogaloo

Year : 1967
Label : Blue Note
Genre : Jazz
Style : Soul Jazz

The essential Soul Jazz masterpiece among the most sampled album of the time, performed by the Soul Jazz saxophonist No. 1 featuring a funky combo with drummer Leo Morris (Idris Muhammad), guitarist George Benson, organist Lonnie Smith & cornestist Melvin Lastie Sr. in addition on "I Want A Little Girl". "Alligator Bogaloo" opens the R&B era of Lou Donalson to the Funk/Soul accent including the climax album "Midnight Creeper" with the same rhythm section. Titles include "One Cylinder" sampled by french rapper MC Solaar on "Qui Sème Le Vent Récolte Le Tempo" (1991) & "Superstarr" (1994), original composition by Lonnie Smith (Aw Shucks!), "The Thang", "Rev. Moses" & the title-track composed by Lou Donaldson. Recorded at studio Rudy Van Gelder.

Lou Donaldson - Midnight Creeper

Year : 1968
Label : Blue Note
Genre : Jazz
Style : Soul Jazz

In the continuity of Mr. Shing-A-Ling and the famous Alligator Boogaloo, Midnight Creeper embraced again the Funk style. Lou Donaldson Quintet featuring Blue Mitchell, Lonnie Smith, George Benson and Idris Muhammad where Lonnie adds his contribution (he co-written the title track with Lou) and George show us his great guitar skill in a mix up of Hard Bop improvisations & Soul Jazz served by funky arrangements. Titles include all compositions of Lou Donaldson except Love Power by Teddy Van, Bag of Jewels by Lonnie Liston Smith (the other jazz organist) & Dapper Dan by Harold Ousley. Recorded at studio Rudy Van Gelder.

Lou Donaldson_altosaxophone
Blue Mitchell_cornet & trumpet
Lonnie Smith_organ
George Benson_guitar
Idris Muhammad_drums

01. Midnight Creeper
02. Love Power
03. Elizabeth
04. Bag of Jewels
05. Dapper Dan

Lou Donaldson - Everything I Play Is Funky

Year : 1970
Label : Blue Note
Genre : Jazz
Style : Soul Jazz

Rare groove and the most funkiest LP from Lou Donaldson and his brilliant quintet  featuring Idris Muhammad &  Lonnie Smith (such as on Midnight Creeper) plus Blue Mitchell, Melvin Sparks and guests Ed Williams & Charles Earland who replaces Blue Mitchell & Lonnie Smith on Donkey Walk & West Indian Daddy. Titles include his best funk track Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky (From Now On) written by Allen Toussaint, Over The Rainbow from movie The Wizard Of Oz by Judy Garland and four original compositions by Lou Donaldson.

Lou Donaldson_alto & baritone saxophone, vocal

Lonnie Smith_organ

Jimmie Lewis_bass

Melvin Sparks_guitar

Idris Muhammad_drums

Blue Mitchell_trumpet

01. Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky (From Now On)
02. Hamp's Hump
03. Over The Rainbow
04. Donkey Walk
05. West Indian Daddy
06. Minor Bash