Possum Head Explained

Possum Head
Type:Album
Artist:Lou Donaldson
Cover:Possum Head.jpg
Released:1964
Recorded:January 28, 1964
Studio:United Recording Studios, Los Angeles
Genre:Jazz
Label:Argo
LP-734
Producer:Esmond Edwards
Chronology:Lou Donaldson
Prev Title:Signifyin'
Prev Year:1963
Next Title:Cole Slaw
Next Year:1964

Possum Head is an album by jazz saxophonist Lou Donaldson recorded for the Argo label in 1964 and performed by Donaldson with trumpeter Bill Hardman, organist “Big” John Patton, guitarist Ray Crawford, drummer Ben Dixon and percussionist Cleopas Morris.[1]

Reception

The album was awarded 4 stars in an Allmusic review by Jason Ankeny who states "Patton's sublimely funky grooves effectively sand away Donaldson's wooden edges to create rolling melodic contours... Donaldson circles around the hard-driving soul-jazz sensibilities of his later records but never quite commits, instead favoring lyrical solos well-matched to standards... An engaging and underrated record".[2]

Track listing

All compositions by Lou Donaldson except as indicated

  1. "Possum Head" - 3:15
  2. "Laura" (David Raksin) - 4:42
  3. "Midnight Soul" - 4:57
  4. "Bye Bye Blackbird" (Mort Dixon, Ray Henderson) - 6:28
  5. "Persimmon Tree" - 5:35
  6. "Frenesí" (Alberto Dominguez, Leonard Whitcup) - 6:15
  7. "Man with a Horn" (Eddie DeLange, Jack Jenney, Bonnie Lake) - 5:04
  8. "Secret Love" (Sammy Fain, Paul Francis Webster) - 5:43

Personnel

Notes and References

  1. http://www.jazzdisco.org/lou-donaldson/catalog/#argo-lp-734 Lou Donaldson discography
  2. Ankeny, J. [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r137805|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic Review] accessed December 10, 2009.