Sunny Side Up [Limited Edition]

Lou Donaldson | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 18, 1995)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Limited Edition
• Label: Blue Note Records
• ASIN: B000005GZO
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #507,447 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

An excellent 1960 date with some fresh faces joining altoist Lou Donaldson. Long undervalued trumpeter Bill Hardman and especially pianist Duke Pearson assist in infusing probably more soul than even Donaldson expected into the arrangements. Augmented by Al Harewood's impeccable timekeeping and Sam Jones and Laymon Jackson splitting time at the bass, the result is a fine mix, with strong writing contributions all-around. Attention should be paid to the originals offered up by Donaldson (The Truth, Goose Grease), Parlan (Blues for J.P.) and Hardman (Politely), as should the smooth takes on the commonalities Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise, The Man I Love and It's You Or No One. --This text refers to the Vinyl edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lou Donaldson - Sunny Side Up, February 24, 2009

By 

Stephen Reddy (Brisbane) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sunny Side Up (Audio CD)

Lou Donaldson - Sunny Side Up

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.

Bill Hardman, tpt
Horace Parlan, p
Sam Jones (3-8), Laymon Jackson, (1-2), b
Al Harewood, d

Recorded at RVG, Feb. 5 (3-8) and Feb. 28 (1-2), 1960

01. Blues For J.P. [0:05:39.49]
02. The Man I Love [0:05:15.46]
03. Politely [0:05:53.00]
04. It's You Or No One [0:03:56.37]
05. The Truth [0:05:21.49]
06. Goose Grease [0:06:08.17]
07. Softly As In A Morning Sunrise [0:06:32.13]
08. Way Down Upon The Swanee River [0:05:39.42]