Lou Donaldson- Sunny Side Up (Blue Note Classic Vinyl Series)

Label: Blue Note

Reissued 10/16/2026, Originally released 1961

Alto saxophonist Lou Donaldson quickly became a fixture on the Blue Note scene after appearing as a sideman with Thelonious Monk and Milt Jackson in 1952. He also began leading his own dates that year and had notched a dozen leader sessions by the time 1960 arrived and Donaldson was back at Van Gelder Studio recording his excellent album Sunny Side Up. In many ways a quintessential Blue Note hard bop outing, the set was a winsome program of swinging standards and bluesy originals given deeply felt performances by a quintet with trumpeter Bill Hardman, pianist Horace Parlan, bassists Sam Jones and Laymon Jackson, and drummer Al Harewood.

Track listing:

1. Blues for J.P
   
2. Man I Love
   
3. Politely
   
4. It's You or No One
   
5. Truth
   
6. Goose Grease
   
7. Softly As in a Morning Sunrise