Lou Donaldson Mosaic

[mikelz777]

Well, I'm at it again. With all the tallying for the most popular Mosaic thread, I've had my attention on the Mosaic site and searching around for bargains. Whenever I trip across a deal where I can save $15.00-$20.00 or more on a Mosaic box set I feel compelled to buy it. In July of 2005, I had no Mosaics at all. In the 16 months since then, I've acquired 6 of the box sets and 5 Selects. It looks like I have the Mosaic fever. This time the prospect is the Lou Donaldson Mosaic.

When tallying responses in the "Which Mosaic Are You Enjoying Right Now?" thread, the Lou Donaldson set was barely mentioned-only twice. I don't see a whole lot of talk about it either. My only Lou D. is "Natural Soul" which I really enjoy. I also had the privilege of seeing him live at the Dakota in Minneapolis with the Doctor on organ and it proved to be a pretty great show. I understand that this is more the hard-bop Lou than the soul-jazz Lou.

For those of you who have it or heard it, what are your thoughts? Is this a set I should pick up? Most of my buys have fallen into the hard-bop and soul-jazz categories with Hank Mobley, Stanley Turrentine, Horace Parlan and The Jazz Crusaders. It seems like Lou Donaldson might be a good fit. (but the amount I've been spending on music lately is getting a bit scarey. )

Edited November 25, 2006 by mikelz777

[jlhoots]

I have it.

I like it.

[Kyo]

I bought it when they offered that discount for a few big Mosaic sets. I'll play it today, haven't really had the time to listen to it so far.

[B. Goren.]

  mikelz777 said:

It seems like Lou Donaldson might be a good fit.

Yes, it is.

  mikelz777 said:

but the amount I've been spending on music lately is getting a bit scarey.

Well known problem...

Edited November 25, 2006 by B. Goren.

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

I haven't got it, but I think I have all but the material with Brownie (and a couple of odd trax) and I love it all!

In these albums, Lou is a master of classic alto playing - the bop Benny Carter.

MG

[J.A.W.]

  The Magnificent Goldberg said:

I haven't got it, but I think I have all but the material with Brownie (and a couple of odd trax) and I love it all!

In these albums, Lou is a master of classic alto playing - the bop Benny Carter.

MG

There's no material with Clifford Brown on the Donaldson Mosaic. The set includes these albums:

Wailing with Lou - Blue Note 1545 (recorded in 1957)

Swing and Soul - Blue Note 1566 (1957)

Lou Takes Off - Blue Note 1591 (1957)

Blues Walk - Blue Note 1593 (1958)

Light-Foot - Blue Note 4053 (1958)

LD + 3 - Blue Note 4012 (1959)

The Time Is Right - Blue Note 4025 (1959)

Sunny Side Up - Blue Note 4036 (1960)

Midnight Sun - Blue Note LT-1028 (1960)

Gravy Train - Blue Note 4079 (1961)

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

  J.A.W. said:

  The Magnificent Goldberg said:

I haven't got it, but I think I have all but the material with Brownie (and a couple of odd trax) and I love it all!

In these albums, Lou is a master of classic alto playing - the bop Benny Carter.

MG

There's no material with Clifford Brown on the Donaldson Mosaic. The set includes these albums:

Wailing with Lou - Blue Note 1545 (recorded in 1957)

Swing and Soul - Blue Note 1566 (1957)

Lou Takes Off - Blue Note 1591 (1957)

Blues Walk - Blue Note 1593 (1958)

Light-Foot - Blue Note 4053 (1958)

LD + 3 - Blue Note 4012 (1959)

The Time Is Right - Blue Note 4025 (1959)

Sunny Side Up - Blue Note 4036 (1960)

Midnight Sun - Blue Note LT-1028 (1960)

Gravy Train - Blue Note 4079 (1961)

Oh well, I've got it all then. 4 only on vinyl; the rest probably both.

MG

[Sundog]

  mikelz777 said:

When tallying responses in the "Which Mosaic Are You Enjoying Right Now?" thread, the Lou Donaldson set was barely mentioned-only twice.

I noticed that too. I listen to this set quite a bit (more than I though I ever would). It's Uncle Lou! What's not to like?

[medjuck]

  J.A.W. said:

There's no material with Clifford Brown on the Donaldson Mosaic. The set includes these albums:

Wailing with Lou - Blue Note 1545 (recorded in 1957)

Swing and Soul - Blue Note 1566 (1957)

Lou Takes Off - Blue Note 1591 (1957)

Blues Walk - Blue Note 1593 (1958)

Light-Foot - Blue Note 4053 (1958)

LD + 3 - Blue Note 4012 (1959)

The Time Is Right - Blue Note 4025 (1959)

Sunny Side Up - Blue Note 4036 (1960)

Midnight Sun - Blue Note LT-1028 (1960)

Gravy Train - Blue Note 4079 (1961)

Having heard Lou on records with Art Blakey and Brownie and really digging him I got "Natural Soul" and was underwhelmed. BTW is there a reason it's not included in the Mosaic?

[J.A.W.]

  medjuck said:

  J.A.W. said:

There's no material with Clifford Brown on the Donaldson Mosaic. The set includes these albums:

Wailing with Lou - Blue Note 1545 (recorded in 1957)

Swing and Soul - Blue Note 1566 (1957)

Lou Takes Off - Blue Note 1591 (1957)

Blues Walk - Blue Note 1593 (1958)

Light-Foot - Blue Note 4053 (1958)

LD + 3 - Blue Note 4012 (1959)

The Time Is Right - Blue Note 4025 (1959)

Sunny Side Up - Blue Note 4036 (1960)

Midnight Sun - Blue Note LT-1028 (1960)

Gravy Train - Blue Note 4079 (1961)

Having heard Lou on records with Art Blakey and Brownie and really digging him I got "Natural Soul" and was underwhelmed. BTW is there a reason it's not included in the Mosaic?

The Natural Soul is from 1962 and fell outside the 1957-1960 time frame of the Mosaic - so did Gravy Train, and I have no idea why they decided to include that album.

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

  medjuck said:

  J.A.W. said:

There's no material with Clifford Brown on the Donaldson Mosaic. The set includes these albums:

Wailing with Lou - Blue Note 1545 (recorded in 1957)

Swing and Soul - Blue Note 1566 (1957)

Lou Takes Off - Blue Note 1591 (1957)

Blues Walk - Blue Note 1593 (1958)

Light-Foot - Blue Note 4053 (1958)

LD + 3 - Blue Note 4012 (1959)

The Time Is Right - Blue Note 4025 (1959)

Sunny Side Up - Blue Note 4036 (1960)

Midnight Sun - Blue Note LT-1028 (1960)

Gravy Train - Blue Note 4079 (1961)

Having heard Lou on records with Art Blakey and Brownie and really digging him I got "Natural Soul" and was underwhelmed. BTW is there a reason it's not included in the Mosaic?

Four that I can think of offhand.

It's later. It's with an organist (as was "Here 'tis", which comes between "Midnight sun" and "Gravy train" - and is going to be in the Baby Face Willette Select, I understand). It was a hit. It's been available on CD for some time and doesn't seem likely to be deleted.

Oh, and you'll be getting Ronnie and Reggie round to show you the error of yer wayz on "Natural soul"

MG

[woofy]

I have a ton of Lou, but not many albums in the Mosaic set. I'm waiting til it runs low, then I'll have to buy it...

[chewy-chew-chew-bean-benitez]

wait waut waitwaiat is there REALLY gonna be a BABYFACE select????

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

  chewy said:

wait waut waitwaiat is there REALLY gonna be a BABYFACE select????

There was a thread about upcoming projects, but damned if I can find it now.

MG

[Soul Stream]

This is one of my favorite Mosaics. Well worth the money, and this music isn't readily available elsewhere. Lou is in his prime here. I mean, just wonderful stuff.

[Indestructible!]

  J.A.W. said:

The Natural Soul is from 1962 and fell outside the 1957-1960 time frame of the Mosaic - so did Gravy Train, and I have no idea why they decided to include that album.

Hi All,

I believe they included Gravy Train because it was Lou's last piano-accompanied date for the label for quite some time, so the they inlcued it to fit that theme (Herman Foster played so well with Lou!). Lou's switch to working with organ players, as we all know, worked out rather well! Here 'Tis absolutely kills!!!

Oh, and count me in as someone who loves this Mosaic set! I wouldn't say it's in my top 10, but is some damn fine music. Ten albums of Papa Lou, documenting his move from bebop to hard bop (and showing his progression to soul jazz)? Count me in!

Cheers,

Shane

Edited December 8, 2006 by Indestructible!