Lou Donaldson • Blowing in the Wind

Review by Jason Ankeny

Blowing in the Wind is perhaps the most curious and oddly compelling of the dates Lou Donaldson cut for Cadet during his mid-'60s exile from the Blue Note stable -- a mish-mash of contemporary pop hits, stage favorites, and standards all packaged in a bizarrely Picasso-like cover, the record's inconsistencies and contradictions make for an experience that's unique even in the context of Donaldson's erratic and eclectic oeuvre. The rollicking and buoyant reading of the Bob Dylan perennial which lends the set its title is completely wide of the mark -- Donaldson's arrangement is so upbeat and feather light, it's as if he never even glanced at the song's original lyrics, yet at the same time the groove is genuinely funky, and it's arguably the record's most truly soulful moment. A close second is the Donaldson original "The Wheeler-Dealer," which benefits from Sam Jones' "Duke of Earl"-inspired bass and its composer's blistering alto leads; although an ill-conceived rendition of "Hello Dolly" is forced and insipid, the group redeems itself with the lovely "Relaxin' in Blue," a 12-bar blues notable for the grace and restraint of its solos.

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Reseña de Jason Ankeny

Blowing in the Wind es quizás la más curiosa y extrañamente convincente de las fechas que Lou Donaldson cortó para Cadete durante su exilio de mediados de los 60 del establo de Blue Note - una mezcla de éxitos pop contemporáneos, favoritos del escenario y estándares, todo ello empaquetado en una portada extrañamente parecida a la de Picasso, las inconsistencias y contradicciones del disco hacen que la experiencia sea única incluso en el contexto de la errática y ecléctica obra de Donaldson. La lectura alegre y optimista de la perenne Bob Dylan que da título al disco es completamente diferente. El arreglo de Donaldson es tan alegre y ligero, que es como si nunca hubiera mirado la letra original de la canción, pero al mismo tiempo el ritmo es genuinamente funky, y podría decirse que es el momento más conmovedor del disco. En segundo lugar está el "The Wheeler-Dealer" original de Donaldson, que se beneficia del bajo inspirado en "Duke of Earl" de Sam Jones y de los arrolladores contraltos de su compositor; aunque una interpretación mal concebida de "Hello Dolly" es forzada e insípida, el grupo se redime con el encantador "Relaxin' in Blue", un blues de 12 compases que destaca por la gracia y la contención de sus solos.

Tracklist
A1 Blowin' In The Wind 3:52
A2 Who Can I Turn To 4:21
A3 The Wheeler-Dealer 3:50
A4 Passing Zone 3:51
B1 Hello, Dolly! 4:53
B2 Relaxing In Blue 8:40
B3 Herman's Mambo 4:47

Credits
Alto Saxophone – Lou Donaldson
Bass – Sam Jones
Congas – Richard Landrum
Drums – Leo Morris
Piano – Herman Foster

Recorded: August, 1966, at RCA Custom Studios, New York City

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