25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Classic Funky Soul Jazz w/ Lonnie, Idris and GB ! ! !, January 28, 2001
This review is from: Midnight Creeper (Audio CD)
Featuring Lonnie Smith on the Organ, Idris Muhammad on Drums, Blue Mitchell on trumpet, and a young George Benson on guitar and recorded in '68, Midnight Creeper was one among a handful of albums w/ funky crossover tracks that Bluesy Charlie Parker disciple Lou Donaldson recorded in the late '60s. - - While Blue Note co-habitant Horace Silver and Riverside rival Cannonball Adderly explored the "straighter" sides of gospelly soul Jazz, it was the likes of Herbie Mann, Lou Donaldson and an entire school of Donaldson disciples like Big John Patton, Grant Green, Reuben Wilson and Lonnie Smith who all out embraced the James Brown school of funk, often taking the timeless 12 bar blues tradition of the B-3 (as interpreted by the likes of Jimmy Smith, Jack McDuff and Jimmy McGriff) and adding a latin tinged funk beat known as Boogaloo - - the rest is history.
Tunes on this album start with Midnight Creeper, built on Donaldson's famous Alligator Boogaloo format (which he claims was just nothing but a 12 bar blues with a good name !), the groovy yet gospelly Love Power, the Mellow and Jazzy Elizabeth, the Lonnie Smithish funkfest Bag of Jewels (if you dig it, check out Lonnie Smith's LIVE AT CLUB MOZAMBIQUE, MOVE YOUR HAND, as well as the music of Leon Spencer) and finally a funky blues grind 'n shuffle called Daper Dan.
Today a young generation of organists such as Adam Scone and Soulive have made efforts to pick up on this distinctly funky Blue Note sound, yet I'm sure you'll agree after getting wiped away by this classic soul Jazz recording, the Turbonator and Sweet Poppa will never be out done.
(P.S. If you're surprized to hear this young incarnation of George Benson giving Melvin Sparks a run for his money, check him out on the late great Jack McDuff's LIVE circa 1963 !)
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Groovalicious, August 28, 2005
This review is from: Midnight Creeper (Audio CD)
This is my fave Lou Donaldson disc, but not because of Lou (who's playing is so ultimately relaxed here that it almost falls off of Rudy Van Gelder's tape). For me, the album is really all about Lonnie Smith. On this particular session he was at his grooviest, peeling off one tasty riff after another. His cool yet smokin' touch on the B3 keeps everyone on track and in like-minded fashion. The underrated Blue Mitchell plays it from the soul this time around, all slippery funk/blues. It's also nice to have George Benson on board whipping up some classy licks of his own. Along with Idris Muhammad's understated beat, the entire crew is just so very locked into the mode that this short(36:10) but killer album is the very definition of "Blue Note Rare Groove". The tune "Bag of Jewels" really lives up to it's name, a groovy little track that is straight outa '68. Dig it!
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5.0 out of 5 stars
I dare you to not tap your feet., December 3, 2011
This review is from: Midnight Creeper (Audio CD)
Most people have never heard of Lou Donaldson, including myself until I overheard one song love power, man it just burns.
So I bought this album and have no regrets, its very well produced, the sound is great, and I dare you to not tap your feet to a few of the sizzling arrangements like Love power and my favourite, 'Bag of Jewels'
This album now gets played a great deal down at the dimly lit 1960's era Lava Lounge I built on my lower floor.
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