| Lou Takes Off | |
| Type: | Album |
| Artist: | Lou Donaldson |
| Cover: | Lou Takes Off.jpg |
| Released: | July 1958[1] |
| Recorded: | December 15, 1957 |
| Studio: | Van Gelder Studio Hackensack, NJ |
| Genre: | Jazz |
| Length: | 38:17 |
| Label: | Blue Note BLP 1591 |
| Producer: | Alfred Lion |
| Chronology: | Lou Donaldson |
| Prev Title: | Jimmy Smith Trio + LD |
| Prev Year: | 1957 |
| Next Title: | Blues Walk |
| Next Year: | 1958 |
Lou Takes Off is an album by American jazz saxophonist Lou Donaldson recorded on December 15, 1957 and released on Blue Note the following year. The sextet features brass section Donald Byrd and Curtis Fuller and rhythm section Sonny Clark, Jamil Nasser and Art Taylor.[2]
According to Donaldson, Blue Note initially didn't like any of the album, "the conga drums or the new musicians."[3]
The AllMusic review by Lee Bloom states, "This recording marks a period in his development prior to a stylistic shift away from bop and toward a stronger rhythm and blues emphasis... Overall, Lou Takes Off breaks no new musical ground, but it is a solid, swinging session of high-caliber playing.[4]