LD + 3 is an album by jazz saxophonist Lou Donaldson and The Three Sounds recorded for the Blue Note label and performed by Donaldson with Gene Harris, Andrew Simpkins, and Bill Dowdy.[2]

LD + 3
Studio album by Lou Donaldson & The Three Sounds
Released	Early October 1959[1]
Recorded	February 18, 1959
Studio	Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, NJ
Genre	Jazz
Length	38:22
Label	Blue Note BST 84012
Producer	Alfred Lion
Lou Donaldson chronology
Light-Foot (1959) LD + 3 (1959) The Time is Right (1959)
The Three Sounds chronology
Bottoms Up! (1959) LD + 3 (1959) Good Deal (1959)

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[3]

The album was awarded 4½ stars by Stephen Thomas Erlewine in an Allmusic review which stated "Donaldson is at a fiery peak, spinning out Bird-influenced licks that nevertheless illustrate that he's developed a more rounded, individual style of his own. The Three Sounds are equally as impressive, working bop rhythms with a dexterity that their first albums only hinted at. That high standard is maintained throughout the album, one of the finest in either of their catalogs. Albums like this and Blues Walk established Donaldson's reputation as a first-rate alto saxophonist, since he flaunts a full, robust tone, a fondness for melody, and nimble solos over the course of the record. LD + 3 is pretty much straight bop and hard bop, with little of the soul-jazz the two artists would later explore, but this collection of swinging standards, bop staples, and a pair of Donaldson originals ranks as one of Lou's finest straight bop sessions".[3]

Track listing

All compositions by Lou Donaldson except as indicated

1. "Three Little Words" (Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby) - 6:20
2. "Smooth Groove" - 5:51
3. "Just Friends" (John Klenner, Lewis) - 5:11
4. "Blue Moon" (Hart, Rodgers) - 3:04
5. "Jump Up" - 6:33
6. "Don't Take Your Love from Me" (Henry Nemo) - 5:50
7. "Confirmation" (Parker) - 5:33

Personnel

• Lou Donaldson - alto saxophone
• Gene Harris - piano
• Andrew Simpkins - bass
• Bill Dowdy - drums

Production

• Alfred Lion - producer
• Reid Miles - design
• Rudy Van Gelder - engineer
• Francis Wolff - photography

References