Lou Donaldson - Lush Life (1967/1980/2014) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz]

"Lush Life" was originally recorded in 1967 but was not released until 1980 in Japan under the title "Sweet Slumber", due to the success of Donaldson's album "Alligator Bogaloo" (also recorded in 1967). Featuring musicians such as Freddie Hubbard, Garnett Brown, Jerry Dodgion, Wayne Shorter, Pepper Adams, McCoy Tyner, Ron Carter and Al Harewood, the album was very well-received when it finally was released.

After brief sojourns at Argo and Cadet, Lou Donaldson marked his 1967 return by recording Lush Life, the grandest project he ever attempted. With its plush arrangements and unabashedly pretty melodies, Lush Life stands in stark contrast to everything else he cut in the '60s. There are no blues, no stabs at soul-jazz grooves, no hard bop – only sweet, sensitive renditions of romantic standards. Donaldson shone on ballads before, but it's nevertheless surprising how successful he is on this set of slow love songs. His tone is full and elegant – it's easy to get lost in his rich readings of these familiar melodies, as well as his slyly seductive improvisations. Of course, it helps that his instrumental backdrops are as lovely as those his nine-piece backing band provide. Nonets are unwieldy, to be certain, but Duke Pearson's arrangements are clean, sparkling, and attractive, and the superstar band – Wayne Shorter (tenor sax), Jerry Dodgion (alto sax, flute), Pepper Adams (bari sax), Freddie Hubbard (trumpet), Garnett Brown (trombone), McCoy Tyner (piano), Ron Carter (bass), Al Harewood (drums) – knows enough to provide sympathetic support and not steal the show. When they do take solos, it enhances Donaldson's original statements, and helps make Lush Life the singularly enchanting record it is.

Tracklist:

01 - Sweet Slumber
02 - You've Changed
03 - The Good Life
04 - Stardust
05 - What Will I Tell My Heart
06 - It Might As Well Be Spring
07 - Sweet And Lovely

Produced by Alfred Lion. Engineered by Rudy Van Gelder.
Recorded on January 20, 1967 at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ.

Musicians:
Lou Donaldson - alto saxophone
Freddie Hubbard - trumpet
Garnett Brown - trombone
Jerry Dodgion - alto saxophone, flute
Wayne Shorter - tenor saxophone
Pepper Adams - baritone saxophone
McCoy Tyner - piano
Ron Carter - bass
Al Harewood - drums


Thanks to the Original customer!