Hop on the "Gravy Train"
Michael B. Richman | Portland, Maine USA | 12/12/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Of all the Blue Note Mosaic boxes I own, the one that I was most reluctant to initially purchase was probably the Lou Donaldson set. The alto saxman had always struck me as a player constantly looking for crossover commercial success, and not interested in playing "real" jazz. And while his late 60s forays into boogaloo funk may have justified some of my unfounded claims, I realized after finally picking up "The Complete Blue Note Lou Donaldson Sessions 1957-60" that the man could flat out play some great soulful jazz! The April 28, 1961 session "Gravy Train" (yes, the Mosaic title is misleading), is a shining example of that style. Generally, the organ trio setting yielded the most funky jazz of the period, but Lou's employment of a standard rhythm trio with a conga player, resulted in fresh grooves of equal power. In this instance, it is conga player Alec Dorsey, and pianist and frequent collaborator Herman Foster (who also played on Lou's Blues Walk and three other sessions currently unavailable in the US as single titles), joining the formidable rhythm duo of Ben Tucker on bass and Dave Bailey on drums -- check those two out on Grant Green's Green Street (see my review). This quintet certainly gets the groove going, though I personally prefer the intricate playing of Ray Barreto on congas (who partnered with LD on 5 sessions during this period) to that of Dorsey. Of all the sessions captured on that Mosaic set, "Gravy Train" would not have been my first choice for single CD reissue (that would be "Midnight Sun" or "Wailing with Lou"), but it is a great album to have back in print nonetheless."
Good playing - poor material
Dr.D.Treharne | Exeter, Devon, United Kingdom | 02/09/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The trouble with having a jukebox hit is that your record company expect you to come up with another hit every album."Blues Walk" had given Donaldson a wider audience, and this was another attempt to record that elusive hit."Gravy Train" appearing here in two versions, was meant to fit the bill, and it's the strongest of the tracks from the set. "The Glory of love" (also here in two versions) is passable,but whoever chose the rest of the tracks relied too heavily on old and not very imaginative standards. The band does its best to redress the balance. It's a good Donaldson performance, and Herman Foster lends good piano support to the horn player. There's neat drum work from Dave Bailey ( former Mulligan sidesman) though the appearance of Alec Dorsey on congas seems like an attempt to beef up the weak material.There are other Donaldson performances that you ought to buy ahead of this - perhaps starting with that album "Blues Walk""
"Open all night" store review ... =))))
Jazzcat | Genoa, Italy Italy | 01/04/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Sorry I'm going home from the job now (18.30 PM). But I found out that nobody reviewed this masterpiece before me and it's a shame. Be aware that this album is really terrific. Tomorrow I'll tell you the whole story about it. But if tonight you'll find it in a store "open all night", buy it. It's SPEC-TA-CU-LAR. Nothing less.
Ok, it's the morning after, I saw a guy immediatly yesterday voted as helpful the first part of my review. Maybe he really found an "open all night" store and did buy this album for real! World is crazy you know!?! Isn't it? Anyway .. let's go back to Lou. This album is absolutly splendid, swinging and bopping. Very melodical Jazz with classic combo, piano, double bass etc. There's an unbelievable version of "Candy" that simply justify the purchase, believe me. But every tune here is something special. Buy this one, you can't go wrong with this train. I'd add that this one is another very well recorded album from Lou. His sound is truly spectacular, quite similar to the sound he had in "The man with the horn" a 1962 Blue Note album which in my opinion has the most wonderful alto sax sound ever recorded (I'm serious, it's unbelievable!). Another very good one is "Alligator boogaloo" but the style is different in these two albums I'm telling you about, it is organ Jazz (anyway in "alligator" you'll find George Benson inside). If you'll find this album as the other guy in another "open all night" store (or anywhere else, I'm just joking!) buy it immediatly, maybe together with the other two Lou's albums I told you about. They're absolutly musthave Jazz records, you can't go wrong! Buy them, they're great stuff! Cheers Jazz mates!"
Track Listings (9) - Disc #1