“Blues Walk”: From Lou Donaldson to Lincoln Center

Blues Walk is the title track from a celebrated 1958 album by jazz alto saxophonist, Lou Donaldson. Known for a “soulful, bluesy approach,” Donaldson’s style of playing was heavily influenced by the bebop of Charlie Parker. The addition of conga drums, performed on the Blues Walk album by Ray Barretto, gave Lou Donaldson’s band a distinct sound. Later albums used an electric organ as a substitute for the piano.

Here is a performance of Blues Walk featuring Wynton Marsalis’ Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. The alto saxophone solo is played by Sherman Irby and the trumpet solo is by Marcus Printup:

A musician’s whole life is to listen.

-Wynton Marsalis

Here is the original 1958 recording by Lou Donaldson:

Recordings

• Blues Walk, Lou Donaldson, Amazon