Like fellow alto saxophonists
Phil Woods,
Jackie McLean,
Frank Morgan,
Ernie Henry, and
Sonny Criss,
Lou Donaldson started out with a very
Charlie Parker-like tone but went on to develop a recognizable sound of his own.
Bird's influence never disappeared from
Donaldson's playing, although he successfully combined that influence with many ideas of his own. The title
Birdseed might lead some to wonder if this 1992 date is a tribute to
Parker -- it isn't, and the CD doesn't contain any
Parker songs at all. However, that title is
Donaldson's way of acknowledging
Parker's tremendous contributions. (Producer Orrin Keepnews put it best when he said that there are basically two types of jazz: before and after
Charlie Parker). Though the uptempo title song has a very
Bird-like melody, it is
Donaldson's own ideas that make this album as appealing as it is. From the
Johnny Hodges-minded ballad "Dorothy" (written by singer Rudy Nichols) to earthy blues statements on
Gene Ammons' "Red Top" and
Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson's "Back Door Blues,"
Birdseed finds
Donaldson in fine form at 65. The CD's most surprising track is "Pennies From Heaven," which has usually been heard at a fast or medium speed in recent decades but is returned to a ballad tempo by
Donaldson (who is joined by organist David Braham, drummer Fukushi Tainaka, percussionist Ralph Dorsey, and the
Grant Green-influenced guitarist
Peter Bernstein). Produced by Bob Porter,
Birdseed falls short of essential but is inspired and swinging. ~ Alex Henderson