Lou Donaldson: Blues Walk (Blue Note Classic Vinyl series) [BLUE NOTE]

Why you'll love it

This Classic Vinyl series edition is mastered by Kevin Gray from the original tapes and pressed on 180g vinyl in Germany. AllMusic's Steve Huey called Blues Walk Donaldson's undisputed masterpiece.

This edition

• Blue Note Classic Vinyl series
• Mastered from the original master tapes
• 180g vinyl
• Pressed in Germany
• Stereo mix

About the album

The conga is the secret ingredient here. Donaldson, a North Carolina-born alto player who came up in the bebop tradition of Charlie Parker, had been recording for Blue Note since the early 1950s. Lou Donaldson brought Ray Barretto into Rudy Van Gelder's studio on July 28, 1958, and the extra rhythm turns a fine bluesy hard bop date into something you can practically dance to.

Herman Foster's piano, Peck Morrison's bass and Dave Bailey's drums keep everything relaxed and swinging. The title track is a slow, strutting blues that sticks in your head for days, "Move" races along, "The Masquerade Is Over" and "Autumn Nocturne" show off Donaldson's sweet, singing alto, and "Play Ray" and "Callin' All Cats" give Barretto room to cook. Alfred Lion produced, with liner notes by Ira Gitler and a cover photo by Francis Wolff.

Donaldson went on to a long career of soul jazz hits, but this is the one jazz fans keep coming back to. Fair warning; the title track has been known to cause involuntary strolling around the shop.

Also at Kops: more Lou Donaldson on vinyl · browse Classic Jazz

Tracklist

Listen

On Blue Note (cat# 4535208), a reissue of the 1958 album.