Concerts
Saturday, May 26, 2012, 20.00: LOU DONALDSON QUARTET (USA)
Lou Donaldson (as), Randy Johnston (g), Akiko Tsuruga (Hammond organ), Fukushi Tainaka (dr)
support act HOE RAA (B)
Bert Cools (g), Dries Laheye (eb), Stijn Cools (dr)
10 euro (students jazz conservatories) / 15 euro (-26) / 18 euro (members) / 20 euro
Book in advance on tel. 015 24 19 53, info@hnita-jazz.be (numbered seats). SOLD OUT!!!
In collaboration with The Writer’s Bench
One of the few surviving pioneers of modern jazz is American alto saxophonist Lou Donaldson (°1926, Badin, North Carolina). At the age of 85, he seems to be touring tirelessly.
Initially inspired by amongst others Johnny Hodges, Donaldson soon discovered Charlie Parker who became the main influence on his way of playing, as can still be heard today. In 1950, he moved to New York, where Alfred Lion of Blue Note Records heard him play at the legendary club Minton’s Playhouse. With the exception of a brief intermission in the sixties, Donaldson recorded for Blue Note Records from 1952 till 1975, both under his own name (with sidemen such as Donald Byrd, Ron Carter, Kenny Dorham, Curtis Fuller, Grant Green, Freddie Hubbard, Blue Mitchell, Wayne Shorter, Horace Silver, McCoy Tyner…) and with Art Blakey, Clifford Brown, Thelonious Monk and many others.
In the sixties, he started working with organists such as Jimmy Smith, Dr. Lonnie Smith and Charles Earland, evolving from bop and hardbop towards an infectious bluesy soul jazz. The album Alligator Bogaloo (Blue Note Records, 1967) with George Benson on guitar even earned him commercial success.
In 1980, he toured Europe for the first time, playing at the Hnita-Jazz Club as well. He returned to Heist-op-den-Berg four more times, the last of which in 1990. Pianist Herman Foster and the drummers Jeff Ballard and Victor Jones are some of the sidemen he played in Heist with.
Donaldson has been working with the members of his current band for many years. American guitarist Randy Johnston (°1956) played with amongst others tenor saxophonist Houston Person and the organists Jack McDuff and Dr. Lonnie Smith. He recorded several albums of his own for Muse Records and HighNote Records. Japanese drummer Fukushi Tainaka (°1954) studied with amongst others Louis Hayes and Philly Joe Jones. He has been at Donaldson’s side since 1986. The discovery of the evening might become Japanese organist Akiko Tsuruga, aptly called “Queen of the Organ” by Donaldson. Tsuruga studied at the Osaka College of Music, before moving to New York in 2001, where Dr. Lonnie Smith became one of her mentors. Sakura, her third American album, has just been released by American Showplace.
Do not miss this unique chance to see this jazz legend live on a Belgian stage!
The young Belgian trio hoe raa will be opening the evening. Theirs is an eclectic style of jazz, influenced by electronic music, world music and pop. Their repertoire mainly consists of original compositions, of which peace and quiet are important components. In April this year, hoe raa performed with Dutch pianist Harmen Fraanje; in June, the trio will be recording its first cd.
In the past few years, individual members of hoe raa were awarded several times. In 2010, guitarist Bert Cools (°1986) won the Erasmus Jazz Prize, annually given to the best student of Codarts Rotterdam, the Rotterdam Jazz Conservatory. That same year, his brother, drummer Stijn Cools (°1981), was awarded the Toots Thielemans Jazz Award, presented to the best jazz student of the Royal Conservatory of Brussels. In 2010, Stijn Cools played at the Hnita-Jazz Club with the quintet Bender Banjax.
More info on www.loudonaldson.com and www.thewritersbench.be.
The Writer’s Bench is being supported by the Provincie Antwerpen.
