Lou Donaldson Quartet

Born in Badin, N.C. in 1926, Lou Donaldson, is still going strong at the age of 83— playing the same brand of soulful, swinging jazz that established him as one of the most popular alto saxophonists to ever record for the Blue Note label. Heavily influenced by Charlie Parker, Donaldson developed his own distinctively bluesy and soulful sound that used organ and guitar as the essential foundation for his music. His first recordings with Milt Jackson and Thelonius Monk in 1952, were followed by the legendary A Night At Birdland, Vols. I & II, along with Clifford Brown, Horace Silver, Art Blakey and Tommy Potter. Donaldson’s Blues Walk, became a major crossover hit in 1958, and subsequent albums such as Alligator Boogaloo (his first collaboration with organist Dr. Lonnie Smith) and The Midnight Creeper followed suit. He was one of the first to incorporate Latin percussion into his band, regularly featuring conguero Ray Barretto. Donaldson continues to tour Europe, Japan and the U.S., laying down the soul-groove sound he perfected decades ago and saying “what’s essential is that my music has a blues flavor, because when you get down to it, that’s what jazz is….Blues is the backbone, and if you don’t have it in jazz it’s like taking sugar out of a cake.” Accompanying Lou Donaldson is Pat Bianci, Hammond B-3 organ; Randy Johnston, guitar; and Fukushi Tainaka, drums

$25/$20 Members & Students.
Available in advance, by phone or in person, at the Outpost Performance Space (268-0044)