Lou Donaldson - The Scorpion (1970) {Blue Note Rare Groove Series 1995}

Lou Donaldson - The Scorpion (1970) {Blue Note Rare Groove Series 1995}

EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 297 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 110 Mb

Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 12 Mb | 5% repair rar

© 1995 Blue Note / Capitol | CDP 7243 8 31876 2 1

Jazz / Hard Bop / Soul Jazz / Saxophone

This previously unreleased live set, which has been issued on Blue Note's Rare Groove Series, will bore anyone who listens closely. The repertoire is dominated by lengthy funk grooves that are quite danceable but never develop beyond the obvious. Altoist Lou Donaldson was using a baritone horn at the time that gave him a generic and unappealing tone, the obscure trumpeter Fred Ballard does his best to no avail and the enthusiastic rhythm section (guitarist Melvin Sparks, organist Leon Spencer, Jr., and drummer Idris Muhammad) keeps the grooves repetitious. Bob Porter's liner notes (which colorfully give readers the history of Newark jazz of the past 30 years) are superlative but, even with the inclusion of a fast blues, musically nothing much happens.

Lou Donaldson - Alligator Bogaloo (1967) {2014 Japan SHM-CD Blue Note 24-192 Remaster}

Lou Donaldson - Alligator Bogaloo (1967) {2014 Japan SHM-CD Blue Note 24-192 Remaster}

EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 217 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 85 Mb

Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 240 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24-bit 192 kHz remaster

© 2014 Universal Japan / Blue Note | BN 75th The Masterworks | UCCQ-5074

Jazz / Soul Jazz / Saxophone

Features SHM-CD format and the latest 24bit 192kHz remastering. Alligator Bogaloo is one example of Lou Donaldson's successful combinations of hard bop and soul-jazz. Of the six tunes, three are Donaldson originals, including the title hit. The excellent band, consisting of Melvin Lastin, Sr. on cornet, George Benson on guitar, Lonnie Smith on organ, and Leo Morris on drums, mixes laid-back vamps beneath driving hard bop charts. As the '60s turned into the '70s, Donaldson began shaving off hard bop invention for a more radio-friendly and 45 rpm length, leaving soulful -- yet monotonous -- vamping. At that point, Donaldson's material suffered from a lack of originality. That's not the case on Alligator Bogaloo.

Lou Donaldson - Midnight Creeper (1968) {2014 Japan SHM-CD Blue Note 24-192 Remaster}

Lou Donaldson - Midnight Creeper (1968) {2014 Japan SHM-CD Blue Note 24-192 Remaster}

EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 231 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 87 Mb

Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 256 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24-bit 192 kHz remaster

© 2014 Universal Japan / Blue Note | BN 75th The Masterworks | TYCJ-81081

Jazz / Jazz Funk / Soul Jazz / Saxophone

Features SHM-CD format and the latest 24bit 192kHz remastering. Funky genius from Lou Donaldson – one of his first funky albums for Blue Note, and a real killer all the way through! The album has a great young group working with Lou – players that include Blue Mitchell on trumpet, Lonnie Smith on organ, Leo Morris (aka Idris Muhammed) on drums, and George Benson on guitar – grooving with that really soulful early sound of his! The album has that hard Lou Donaldson funky sound that still sounds fantastic today – and titles include "Dapper Dan", "Midnight Creeper", "Bag of Jewels", and "Love Power".

Jimmy Smith - Cool Blues (1958) {2012 Japanese BNLT Series Remaster}

Jimmy Smith - Cool Blues (1958) {2012 Japanese BNLT Series Remaster}

EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 440 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 173 Mb

Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 55 Mb | 5% repair rar

© 2012 Blue Note / EMI Music Japan | TOCJ-50291

Jazz / Hard Bop / Soul Jazz / Organ

Proof that at his start, Jimmy Smith had a greatness that knew no bounds – as the album's one of a few that Blue Note recorded in the late 50s, but never issued until many years later – even though they had already released so many amazing records from this period! The set has Jimmy really cooking away – playing live at Small's Paradise, in a group that has Lou Donaldson's alto on just about every track, and tenor from Tina Brooks on most of the others too. Tunes are tighter and shorter than on the more jam session albums, which makes for a nice change – and titles include "Groovin At Smalls", "Dark Eyes", "Cool Blues", and "A Night In Tunisia" – which begins with an announcement from Babs Gonzales! 8 tracks in all – 4 more than on the 1980 album – with better sound than before as well!