“Lou Donaldson is definitely considered one of the greatest alto sax players on the scene today and he has contributed more to the art of playing alto than about anyone around…”
Stanley News & Press, September 1993
Paul Jeffrey, Tenor Saxophonist
” He’s listened to just about everyone, and not only alto players. With this knowledge of the entire jazz language,
Lou is definitely an individual voice.”
Horace Parlan
“The octogenarian virtuoso has lost little to the passing decades.”
The Chicago Tribune
“He remains the leading exponent of this soul-jazz approach. Yet even at its bluesiest, his playing remains informed by bebop.”
The New York Times
“My first impulse is always to describe Lou Donaldson as the greatest alto saxophonist in the world.”
The New York Sun, January 2007
Will Friedwald
NO FUSION — NO CONFUSION
JUST STRAIGHT AHEAD JAZZ, BEBOP & BLUES
LOU’S SIGNATURE TUNE
Lou’s Signature Tune: Blues Walk
BEBOP MASTER PLAYS WEE
BEBOP MASTER PLAYS CHEROKEE
LOU PLAYS ALL TIME HIT ALLIGATOR BOOGALOO
SPECIAL APPEARANCES
[gigpress_shows]
Lou & Charlie Parker 1953 or 1954 at Paradise on 110th Street & 8th Avenue in Harlem (Credit: Photographer Unknown) (Credit: Photographer Unknown)
HONORS TO LOU
North Carolina Fine Art Award: Tribute to Lou
Lou Receives North Carolina Music Hall of Fame Award
Lou Proudly Displays North Carolina Music Hall of Fame Award 2012
Lou proudly displays North Carolina Music Hall of Fame Award
Lou Receives Ellington Medal
Lou Donaldson Quartet Performs When Lou Receives Medal Named In Honor of Duke Ellington at Yale 2012
Lou Receives Benjamin Banneker Award
Lou Receives Benjamin Banneker Award on February 27, 2014
Help LOU Celebrate His 98th BIRTHDAY at DIZZY'S NYC on WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2024!!!
and Jazz at Lincoln Center has announced that Lou is a 2024 inductee into the Ertegun Jazz Hall of Fame!! Lou sincerely thanks all of his fans for endorsing him for this award as he celebrates his 98th birthday!!
Lou will not be in attendance at his annual birthday celebration this year but hopes you will be there!
As every year, Lou's renowned former bandmembers and musician friends below will honor him by playing many of his celebrated tunes at his party and will include surprise artists who will appear to play tribute to Lou!