Alto saxophonist Lou Donaldson’s ‘Sunny Side Up’ could be described as the archetypal Blue Note album. It enjoys an easy laissez faire swing, which reflects the label’s sound at this time (1960). The seven tracks come from two sessions both recorded in February. Bill Hardman on trumpet, pianist Horace Parlan and drummer Al Harewood are present at both whilst the bass chair changes from Sam Jones to Laymon Jackson between the two dates. The album kicks off with two up-tempo Hard Bop numbers, firstly Parlan’s ‘Blues For J P’ and the Gershwin’s ‘The Man I Love’. The tempo moderates for Bill Hardman’s ‘Politely’ but picks up for the standard ‘It’s You Or No One’ that is taken at double time. Donaldson’s own ‘The Truth’ takes a bluesier route and Lou’s second piece ‘Goose Grease’ is a bright, sleek Soul Jazz number. The album concludes with a fine take on another standard ‘Softly As In A Morning Sunrise’. ‘Sunny Side Up’ is not ground breaking nor one of the stand out Donaldson Blue Note recordings, but is strong Hard Bop tinged with a dollop of Soul and hugely entertaining.
Track listings:
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01 Blues For J.P. by Lou Donaldson
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02 The Man I Love by Lou Donaldson
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03 Politely by Lou Donaldson
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04 It’s You Or No One by Lou Donaldson
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05 The Truth by Lou Donaldson
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06 Goose Grease by Lou Donaldson
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07 Softly As In A Morning Sunrise by Lou Donaldson
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