Lou Donaldson - Sweet Poppa Lou (Muse) [vinyl]

Chris Sheridan Jazz Journal, July, 1982
“This is so close in spirit to the last Donaldson recording I reviewed ("Midnight Sun', Blue Note LT-1028) that the 20 years between the sessions melt into oblivion. Indeed, after two decades in the commercial boogaloo jungle, Lou has signified a return to straight-ahead blowing and, on this evidence, has picked up the traces as though nothing ever happened.
Though Parker remains in the background of his work, Lou has matured beyond the mantle, developing an essentially lightweight post-bop style with an individual, pleasantly reedy tone. It occasionally borders on the sentimental (You'll Never' Know), but, on vehicles with a strong melodic, harmonic or rhythmic base he can play extremely satisfyingly. If I Should Lose You is a case in point, generating tensile work from the altoist that approaches the standard of still the finest interpretation of the tune, by Hank Mobley.
The rhythmic shadings of the blues. Mo' Gravy and Shuckin', are a trifle obvious, but born of so long leading organ trios, and Foster's chordal style prolongs the organ trio atmosphere. It also perpetuates the illusion that the session could have been recorded any time in the fifties.
This is by no means an essential purchase, but it is certainly more rewarding than a generous proportion of today's output.”

01 - Mambo Inn
02 - You'll Never Know
03 - Mo' Gravy
04 - If I Should Lose You
05 - Shuckin' Blues
06 - Don't Take Your Love From Me

Lou Donaldson (as) Herman Foster (p) Calvin Hill (b) Idris Muhammad (d)
Ralph Dorsey (per -1/3)
Englewood Cliffs, NJ, January 7, 1981