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.[2]

Possum Head
Studio album by Lou Donaldson
Released	1964
Recorded	January 28, 1964
Studio	United Recording Studios, Los Angeles
Genre	Jazz
Label	Argo LP-734
Producer	Esmond Edwards
Lou Donaldson chronology
Signifyin' (1963) Possum Head (1964) Cole Slaw (1964)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[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".[3]

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

• Lou Donaldson - alto saxophone
• Bill Hardman - trumpet
• Ray Crawford - guitar
• Big John Patton - organ
• Ben Dixon - drums
• Cleopas "Mopedido" Morris - percussion

References