Dorothy Donegan Albums (11)
What The Critics Say
Dorothy Donegan was a virtuoso pianist who dazzled fellow players while she made the rounds with Art Tatum. Whether in the studio or on-stage, Donegan never hesitated to show off her chops, though her abrasive personality may have contributed to a lack of recognition until late in her career. These recordings were made in 1979 for Black & Blue in France, showcasing her exclusively as a solo pianist. She demonstrates her stride chops in a wailing "Lullaby in Rhythm," while her inventive bassline and unusual rhythmic approach to "You Go to My Head" is dazzling. Not just an interpreter of standards, her remarkable arrangement of the Beatles' "Yesterday" gives it a gospel flavor, while incorporating the blues as well. A pair of her originals, "Tonky Honk" (obvious derived from the popular song "Alley Cat") and "Goodbye Blues" (adapted from the well-known "Bye Bye Blues"), prove to be a little disappointing, considering her potential. Better is her bluesy, swinging instrumental "I Just Want to Sing." This is easily one of Dorothy Donegan's best overall releases. ~ Ken Dryden, All Music Guide
'The Explosive Dorothy Donegan'
Release Date 12/1/1995
Tracks 12
Label Audiophile
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What The Critics Say
After a long period of neglect, the great pianist Dorothy Donegan made this Progressive album, her first American recording in 17 years. Joined by bassist Jerome Hunter (who had to be very alert to follow Donegan's wild flights) and drummer Ray Mosca, Donegan performs nine songs (seven veteran standards plus two of her originals) in unpredictable fashion, displaying technique that is on the level of a masterful classical pianist; highlights include "Lover," "Love for Sale," "Donegan's Blues" and a very explorative "St. Louis Blues." Although this album helped give her some recognition, Dorothy Donegan's next set for an American label would not take place until 1990. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
'Dorothy Donegan Trio with Clark Terry'
Release Date 2/16/1994
Tracks 14
Label Chiaroscuro
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'The Live at the 1991 Floating Jazz Festival'
Release Date 1/1/1992
Tracks 10
Label Chiaroscuro
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'The Incredible Dorothy Donegan Trio'
Release Date 1/1/1991
Tracks 10
Label Chiaroscuro
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'Live at the 1990 Floating Jazz Festival'
Release Date 1/1/1991
Tracks 11
Label Chiaroscuro
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What The Critics Say
The remarkable pianist Dorothy Donegan, who has been overlooked by many jazz fans and critics for decades, is heard in a typically exciting and occasionally riotous live session recorded on the SS Norway. Followed by bassist Jon Burr (who has to work hard to keep up with Donegan's many spontaneous changes of direction) and drummer Ray Mosca, Donegan performs a varied set that includes a few eccentric medleys (including one of "Someday My Prince Will Come" and "Tiger Rag" and another that combines together "Misty" and "Caravan"), an odd tribute to "Lena, Eartha, Pearl & Billie" and her "Blackbird Boogie." Switching between bop, boogie-woogie, stride and classical music, Dorothy Donegan puts on a colorful show. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
'It Happened One Night'
Release Date 1/1/1960
Tracks 11
Label Roulette
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What The Critics Say
Although Dorothy Donegan had a long career as a performer, the pianist had a somewhat erratic career as a recording artist, no doubt due in part to the fact that she could prove to be very demanding, arrogant, and difficult to work with. This live LP, recorded circa 1960 at the Roundtable with an unidentified rhythm section (a frequent situation on her albums), finds her ranging from swing ("Take the 'A' Train" and "My Blue Heaven") to soul-jazz ("Moanin'") and bop ("Just in Time"), all of which are played in the rather flamboyant yet consistently inventive style that was hard to mistake for anyone else. Often she abruptly switches styles in the middle of a song. Her one original of the session, "Boogie in the Nursery," at times seems inspired by Meade "Lux" Lewis' "Honky Tonk Train Blues." Long out of print, this record will be extremely difficult to acquire. ~ Ken Dryden, All Music Guide
'Donnybrook with Dorothy'
Release Date 1/1/1960
Tracks 12
Label Capitol
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What The Critics Say
Dorothy Donegan could be a very entertaining pianist when she resisted the temptation to excessively show off her incredible chops. This 1959 session with an unidentified rhythm section (which is typical for all of her records from this period in her career) focuses almost exclusively on time-tested standards. She romps through "I've Got You Under My Skin" (which adds a conga drummer), a playful roller coaster arrangement of "Lover" (which remained a part of her repertoire until her death in 1998), though she slows down for a moment with an occasionally dark, very bluesy interpretation of "Moonlight in Vermont." The only disappointing track is her upbeat but rather lightweight "D.B. Blues." Fans who discovered her late in her career from her show-stopping appearance as a guest on Marian McPartland's radio program or one of her several CDs released by Chiaroscuro will want to search for this long out of print Capitol LP, which will not be easy to acquire. ~ Ken Dryden, All Music Guide
