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Lou Donaldson RIP


EKE BBB

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Lou was a sweetheart! Back in 1981 when I was chairman of the Chicago Jazz Festival, I put together a Jimmy Smith Jam and Lou was part of the band. Over rehearsals, sound check and performance I had occasion to introduce Lou to my 2 children at different times. When Lou met my second child, he chuckled and said "I feel much better now - this one is yours for sure".

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I'm sorry to hear this. What a life and career. The first time I met Dr. Lonnie Smith, he was playing with Lou Donaldson at The Firefly Club in Ann Arbor, MI. As a 20 something year old kid, I didn't really understand how the bass pedals were used in jazz organ playing and Dr. Lonnie set me straight. I worked up the courage to go talk to him after the gig and he sat me right down on the bench and showed me the technique. I got to meet Lou then, too. He was a sweet, gentle man with a wicked sense of humor, which is reflected in his music. 

I love so many of those Blue Note organ records he did. Alligator Boogaloo. Mr Shing-a-Ling, Good Gracious!, Midnight Creeper, Natural Soul, etc. What a legend.

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Lou made fun records in many styles, serious fun.  And he brought Horace Silver and Grant Green to BN.  IIRC he played on early recordings of both Round Midnight and Bags Groove.  You could do comps of him doing R&B covers (and singing on them!) and playing Charlie Parker tunes and playing pretty on standards, and all 3 would be great.

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