Lou Donaldson Quartet, Early Show at the Jazz Standard, New York, NY, January 19, 2012
Lou Donaldson is one of the most-sampled artists of all time and supposedly the holder of that title for the Blue Note Records catalog. His "Ode to Billy Joe", from 1967, has been sampled over 200 times alone (and by no less than Kanye, Eminem and A$AP Rocky, to name a few). Other artists who have counted on Lou for a little funk include A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Mary J. Blige, etc, etc, etc.
When I caught Lou he was 85 years young, leading his still-groovin' quartet of himself on alto, Randy Johnston on guitar, "Sweet and Funky" Akiko Tsuruga on Hammond B-3 organ and McClenty Hunter on drums
Their setlist was: Blues Walk, Wee, What A Wonderful World, Fast and Freaky, 18th and Vine, Gravy Train, Bye Bye Blackbird, Cherokee
This recording is from my personal archive.
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