Lou Donaldson (alto sax); Fred Ballard (trumpet); Melvin Sparks (guitar); Leon Spencer Jr. (organ); Idris Muhammed (drums).
One of the later Blue Notes (1970) the album is, in the main, based around the seventies' disco beat that Donaldson capitalised on with his big dance floor groover - Alligator Boogaloo which is included here.
To be honest, this isn't the hard driving sax player from his earlier days. Here he has hit a commercial seam and he mines it to the full.
Having said that, he blows funky alto and some nice ballad work on Laura and some swingy playing on The Masquerade is Over. We didn't know it then but this is what eventually morphed into smooth jazz. Not quite yet but the morphing wasn't far away.
Music for a dance party - a dance party these days? - Yes but not one to enjoy whilst social distancing.
I often wonder, when the roll is called up yonder over there, where musicians such as Blue Note hit men Donaldson and Donald Byrd will stand. Will they be on the right hand or the left hand of Parker and Gillespie?
I'll tell you when I find out. In the meantime, The Scorpion is about as dangerous as the family cat.
Lance
1 comment :
What makes you think you're heading there and not the other place?!
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