Blue Note Records continues to release vintage jazz titles in vinyl format to remind people what it was like to actually sit down and listen to music. What a concept!
The latest albums focus on hard bop, with Lou Donaldson’s 1958 classic Blues Walk hitting the streets at the end of June.
There is an undisputed warmth that comes with music emanating from vinyl, and few things are as glorious as the anticipatory “clunk” of the needle hitting the album before the first notes come from the speakers. And the wait is worth it here, as this is without a doubt the alto saxists magnum opus.
The Charlie Parker-imbibed saxist is teamed by the percolating team of Herman Foster/p, ‘Peck’ Morrison/b, Dave Bailey/dr and Ray Barretto/conga. The mix of vintage bebop blown like smoke rings through Donaldson’s bluesy reed makes for two sides of easy swing that goes down like a cool drink.
The title tune is one of Donaldson’s signature originals, and it simmers like grilled onions here, while he digs in deep and blows fire on the crisp “Move”. Foster’s fingers dance on “The Masquerade Is Over” and the addition of Barreto’s congas makes the whole thing sizzle. Your speakers will send you a love note for this one.