Happy Birthday to Sweet Papa Lou Donaldson. I had the pleasure of first meeting him and hearing him play in the late 1980s in Albany, NY. He "swang" like nobody's business and played with infectious enthusiasm. Having seen him.countless times since then in a number of settings and with a number of outstanding cats including Herman Foster, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Akiko Tsuruga, Pat Bianchi, and Bob Devos amongst others, he never disappointed. He is always approachable, funny and a true gentlemen. I always love hearing him say one of his many famous lines, that I first heard him say regarding Herman Foster - "And from Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love......Until the Weekend!!!!...." Always cracks me up when I think about it, especially when I heard him say it at the Village Vanguard when introducing Fukushi Tainaka! Long Live Lou Donaldson. Truly one of the all-time greats.