He was born in 1926 and lived to be just 98 years old, having played in public well into his 80s. Donaldson was an alto saxophonist who began his career as a disciple of Charlie Parker, with whom he played, but, as part of the group of young players recruited to Blue Note Records in the 1950s he developed a more soulful sound. In the hour-long tribute to his music, we sample that great era of jazz, “Hard Bop” in which Donaldson was so important.
Track list for The Hot Box #136 – In Memory of Lou Donaldson

Watusi Jump: Lou Donaldson: “Here ’Tis”
Hipty Hop: Lou Donaldson: “A Man with a Horn”
Spaceman Twist: Lou Donaldson “The Natural Soul”
Wee Dot: Art Blakey: “A Night at Birdland Volume Two”
Alligator Boogaloo: Lou Donaldson “The Scorpion”
Polka Dots and Moonbeams: Lou Donaldson “Gravy Train”
The Sermon: Jimmy Smith: Blue Note “The Sermon”

All tracks are on the Blue Note Records label.
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