Peter Johnson Posted November 25, 2003 Report Share Posted November 25, 2003 (edited) As some of you may know, Lou Donaldson and his regular quartet (including the Turbanator, HELLYEAH!) are playing at the Vanguard this week. I had been planning on going to this show with my wife; as it turns out, she's on call this week and won't be able to make the trek north (other than Wednesday, and neither of us relishes the idea of negotiating the New Jersey turnpike on the busiest travel day of the year). Is anyone planning on going to this show (two sets/night, Tuesday-Sunday)? I'm thinking about going for one or both sets on Friday night, and thought it would be nice to meet up with anyone who's planning on being there. Drop me a PM or reply here! **Edited to add show report Edited November 30, 2003 by Peter Johnson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sal Posted November 25, 2003 Report Share Posted November 25, 2003 I saw them a couple of months ago here in Chicago. These guys put on a hell of a show! Anyone in the vicinity of the VV should go catch these guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leeway Posted November 26, 2003 Report Share Posted November 26, 2003 Lou is amazing. I was reading an old DownBeat from around 1968; there's an interview with Lou where he talks about gigs, and how he keeps getting booked because he keeps the audience happy. Still works! Peter, that's a neat trick with your avatar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soul Stream Posted November 26, 2003 Report Share Posted November 26, 2003 I'd give anything to be there. Have fun Peter. Lou, Lonnie and the band put on a great show, and also PLAY a great show. Hands down my favorite group to hear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Johnson Posted November 28, 2003 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2003 Up for a look before the weekend... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soul Stream Posted November 30, 2003 Report Share Posted November 30, 2003 Talked to Fukushi Tainaka last night on the phone. Said it's been a nice week at the VV and that Ben Riley came out and sat in the other night. Wish I could have been there this week! I'd love to hear any reports.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Johnson Posted November 30, 2003 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2003 Oh man oh man oh man oh man oh MAN!!! Can I get a HELLYEAH!!! As someone who just starting getting crazy into Blue Note and soul jazz artists in 1999 (despite earlier introductions to both, and jazz in general), seeing Sweet Poppa Lou and the Turbanator live last night (two sets) has GOT to be the highlight of my live jazz experiences thus far. The first set was 9:00, and I arrived (three hours after leaving Philadelphia, traffic SUCKED ) barely in time for opening (8:00). Fortunately, I was third in line behind two couples. With my advance reservations, I ducked right in, and I was seated, and I'm not kidding about this, TWO FEET from Dr. Smith's Hammond. I was by myself (my wife was on call), so busied myself for the next hour reading VV. At 9:00 the lights went down, and the magic was about to begin. I'll hit some of the highlights. Lou & company started the magic with a rousing version of Blues Walk. Everyone was in fine form right off the bat--this is a group that understands its inter-player dynamics WELL--and the song was tight from the get go. Lou kicked off a set of three solos, giving way to Randy Johnston on guitar (he actually seemed a bit off last night, had me wondering if, because Lou was so ON, he was trying to get up to snuff with frenetic, rather than thoughtful, solos). Then the good doctor took over with, literally, the most extraordinary solo I've ever seen in my life. He started on the (soulstream/b-3er, correct me if I'm wrong) upper octaves of the top manual with a light, quiet, barely-touched-with-leslie sound that felt as though it was coming down from the heavens above. It was THAT ethereal. It didn't stay that way long, though, because Lonnie pulled a demon out of his hat and whipped that organ and the crowd into the craziest, full-stop, full-leslie solo that anyone present, by the sound of things, had ever heard. It was other-wordly. Fukushi Tainaka FELT Lonnie's solo, and at the most extreme, chaotic and beautiful climax moment of all, Dr. Smith jumped off the bench, got to the ground and CONTINUED the solo by playing it WITH HIS HANDS on the pedals. Lou was wailing with excitement, Randy Johnston was so astounded he was barely able to comp, at one point laying out and just watching. I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS IN MY LIFE. As quickly as it began, Lonnie's solo was over, and the crowd was so loud it was nearly impossible to tell that the group played the last bridge and sailed through one last chorus to wrap up the first fifteen minutes of a seriously ecstatic rendition of BLUES WALK. Suffice it to say, with my vantage point, I spent the rest of the concert emotionally spent, sitting back with my scotch and a big on my face. Completely warmed up at this point, the band played CHEROKEE next, followed by a ballad (the name of which I can't recall), which Lou announced as, "for all of the foreigners in the audience who aren't familiar with American Music, that was 'Don't Step on my Blue Suede Shoes. Elvis is in the building!" Next was a smashing rendition of "MIDNIGHT CREEPAAAAAAH" [spelling/emphasis Lou's] complete with a blissed-out stop-time/carnival-organ bridge and other rhythmic antics by Tanaka and Dr. Smith, who were unbelievably tight and in the pocket and appeared to be daring Lou to miss the beat. They failed. The band cooled it out for a bit with a BLUES which he opted to sing, much to the delight of the crowd. Timely lyrics, designed to please the crowd: Went to the white house Sat in the president's chay-uh G.W. Bush came in, said Lou, what you doin' he-ah? Oh he's in a mess'a trouble He ain't lovin' life right now... 'Cause when I woke up the next mornin' Not one weapon of mass destruction had been found!!!! And they wrapped it up with a song from one of the BN records--not sure which one ("It's still available--buy it, we need the money!") After the first set (10:30), the "management" announced that the second set was sold out, but "please come back on Sunday. " I hung back--after everyone left, I asked the manager if I could stay for the second set, and he let me. In between, I hit the W.C., and in negotiating the rabbit-warren that is the VV's restroom area, walked past the "green room"--there were Dr. Smith and Lou, just sitting there, shooting the shit. I politely knocked, introduced myself, and thanked them for an incredible performance that night, and quite a few years of musical enjoyment prior. They couldn't have been nicer, and appeared genuinely thrilled that someone took the time to tell them this. A true highlight of my life, meeting these giants of music. The second set wasn't as blisteringly unreal as the first, but contained some very nice highlights, including a 20-minute version of ALLIGATOR BOGALOO, an incredible 8-minute long drum solo (very evocative of Blakey) by Mr. Tanaka, and an hysterical version of WHISKEY DRINKIN' WOMAN (lyric: "She put whiskey in her cornflakes; she put whiskey in her tea; if she got any left; she put it ALL IN ME!") to wrap up the night. The lights came on, I buttoned up my coat and strolled into the cold New York night--very light on my feet, and possibly a year or two younger after watching these four extraordinary musicians put on the show of (my) lifetime. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Sweet Poppa Lou, Dr. Smith, Fukushi Tainaka and Randy Johnston for a truly unforgettable evening. 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Soul Stream Posted November 30, 2003 Report Share Posted November 30, 2003 Hey Peter...thanks for the blow by blow! And welcome to the Lou and Co. fan club! These guys are wonderful and, as you so well described it, make you FEEL GOOD!!!! Something we all need more of. Long live Lou. And the Dr. IS in! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Johnson Posted November 30, 2003 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2003 Long live Lou. And the Dr. IS in! Oh HELLYEAH!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe G Posted November 30, 2003 Report Share Posted November 30, 2003 What a delightful post! Jim and I saw Lou and the Dr. a couple of years ago (with a Chicago drummer and Peter Bernstein) and we agree, that show is some serious fun. I'd go again in a heartbeat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Gould Posted December 1, 2003 Report Share Posted December 1, 2003 Great post, Peter, I can only wish that I might see Sweet Lou and the good Doctor someday. Now do you understand why I suggested "Whiskey Drinkin' Woman" for the Organissimo CD project? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Johnson Posted December 1, 2003 Author Report Share Posted December 1, 2003 Are you kidding me? I think Whiskey Drinkin' Woman should be the band's theme song...particular after AB's "take" on the Boogaloo Sisters cover! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajf67 Posted December 1, 2003 Report Share Posted December 1, 2003 I saw Lou at the Vanguard a few months ago and I am sooooo bummed that I couldn't get up there this time. GREAT, GREAT show. Peter, thanks for the play-by-play on your show. Wish I had been there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
couw Posted December 1, 2003 Report Share Posted December 1, 2003 (edited) that was a great read Peter! just a reminder of this link from a performance at the dutch North Sea Jazz festival. Edited December 1, 2003 by couw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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