Lou Donaldson

Years ago, at one of the milestone NYC anniversary parties for Blue Note Records, a piercing voice burst out above the clinking glasses and chattering tongues, loudly declaiming (quoted here with several profanities omitted), "Blue Note never gave me a dime!"

- ROBERT BAIRD

A lot of people turned to see who dared profane the label within earshot of beloved Blue Note president Bruce Lundvall and his staff, including the late Tom Evered. A gasp of recognition followed when it was discovered that those words had come from Lou Donaldson, one of the few original Blue Note bebop stars still out partying and playing music in the 21st century.

When the altoist died in Florida last November, one of the longest surviving early-bebop personages, he'd amassed a robust and influential recording legacy, now available via streaming, CD, and original and reissue vinyl, the last of which I'll survey here.

Although his career began in his home state of North Carolina, Donaldson adjourned for Gotham early. Like virtually every other alto player of his generation, he was influenced by Charlie Parker and Johnny Hodges. Donaldson's first recordings were issued as New Faces - New Sounds, a 10" mono album tracked in the studios of NYC's WOR when he was 27. It featured Donaldson in a quintet with pianist Elmo Hope, bassist Percy Heath, drummer Joseph "Philly Joe" Jones, and the masterful, soon-to-be-lost trumpeter Clifford Brown.