Jazz
Sunny Side Up is closer to hard bop than the straight-ahead bop that characterized Lou Donaldson's '50s Blue Note records. There's a bit more soul to the songs here, which pianist Horace Parlan helps emphasize with his lightly swinging grooves. The pair help lead the group -- which also features trumpeter Bill Hardman, drummer Al Harewood and bassist Sam Jones (Laymon Jackson plays bass on two of the eight songs) -- through a mellow set of standards and bluesy originals from Donaldson and Parlan. Even the uptempo numbers sound relaxed, never fiery. Despite the general smoothness of the session, Donaldson stumbles a little -- the quotation of "Flight of the Bumblebee" on "Blues for J.P." is awkward, as is the snippet of "Pop Goes the Weasel" on "Politely," and "Way Down Upon the Swanee River" sounds lazy -- but there's enough solid material to make Sunny Side Up a worthwhile listen for fans of Donaldson and early-'60s hard bop.
**
In the late fifties and early sixties, alto saxophonist Lou Donaldson recorded primarily with his own quartet with pianist Herman Foster or with organ trios. Occasionally, he'd break the mold as he did on this February, 1960 session that was strictly a hard bop affair which includes trumpeter Bill Hardman and pianist Horace Parlan. There's still plenty of funk in evidence as Goose Grease bears out, but Hardman's Politely, Softly As In A Morning Sunrise and The Man I Love find Lou digging deep into his bop roots.
**
Sunny Side Up is closer to hard bop than the straight-ahead bop that characterized Lou Donaldson's '50s Blue Note records. There's a bit more soul to the songs here, which pianist Horace Parlan helps emphasize with his lightly swinging grooves. The pair help lead the group -- which also features trumpeter Bill Hardman, drummer Al Harewood and bassist Sam Jones (Laymon Jackson plays bass on two of the eight songs) -- through a mellow set of standards and bluesy originals from Donaldson and Parlan. Even the uptempo numbers sound relaxed, never fiery. Despite the general smoothness of the session, Donaldson stumbles a little -- the quotation of "Flight of the Bumblebee" on "Blues for J.P." is awkward, as is the snippet of "Pop Goes the Weasel" on "Politely," and "Way Down Upon the Swanee River" sounds lazy -- but there's enough solid material to make Sunny Side Up a worthwhile listen for fans of Donaldson and early-'60s hard bop.
By Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide.
**
Bill Hardman- Trumpet
Lou Donaldson- Alto Sax
Horace Parlan- Piano
Sam Jones- Bass (3, 6, 7)
Laymon Jackson- Bass (1, 2, 4, 5)
Al Harewood- Drums
**
01. Blues For J. P. (Horace Parlan)
02. The Man I Love (I. & G. Gershwin)
03. Politely (Bill Hardman)
04. It's You Or No One (Cahn-Styne)
05. The Truth (Lou Donaldson)
06. Goose Grease (Lou Donaldson)
07. Softly As Ina Morning Sunrise (Hammerstein II-Romberg)
**
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