DR. LONNIE SMITH TRIO
FEATURING LOU DONALDSON, DAVID "FATHEAD" NEWMAN & HOUSTON PERSON
An Exclusive Concert Event
SOUL JAZZ SUMMIT
Saturday, 1/19/08, 8 pm
Reynolds Industries Theater
$38 • $32 • $5*
Dr. Lonnie Smith has long been an inspired presence on the Hammond B3, a soul jazz pioneer who has pressed his deep groove in the service of fellow funky path-breakers Lou Donaldson, Grant Green, and George Benson, to name just a few. Dr. Lonnie, describing the instrument with which he’s become synonymous, says, “The organ is like sunlight, rain and thunder—it’s all the worldly sounds to me!"
Lou Donaldson was born in Badin, N.C., the son of an AME Zionist Minister. On the classic albums Alligator Bogaloo and The Midnight Creeper—Donaldson blows alto and penned many of the tracks on those seminal discs—helped define the soul jazz genre. The musical strut that Donaldson let roll on those records has long been a staple sample of hip-hop producers.
Houston Person first fired his soulful, thick-toned tenor in the service of Johnny Hammond, another dynamite B3 organ player. He dropped his first disc as bandleader in the late ‘60s and has continued, over the ensuing 40 years, to churn out choice cuts—including 30 years working with Etta Jones, one of the longest-lasting and critically lauded partnerships in jazz.
David “Fathead” Newman's solo career began at the bequest of Ray Charles, who produced the acclaimed ‘59 Atlantic debut, Fathead: Ray Charles Presents David Newman. Newman was, of course, Charles’ musical director and designated ax-man during the height of the legendary soul star’s career. Over the past 50 years, Fathead has held sway as one of the titans of the tenor saxophone.
This blowout summit joins the energies of four soul jazz ground-breakers for the first time ever.
In addition to Dr. Lonnie on Hammond B3, the summit's backing trio features Peter Bernstein on guitar and Herlin Riley on drums.
Dr. Lonnie Smith on the web:
Lou Donaldson on the web:
David "Fathead" Newman on the web:
www.myspace.com/davidfatheadnewman1
To watch a Duke Today video of the performance, click here.