Long Out Of Print 1996 Japanese Mono Reissue With Obi. "Lou Takes Off" is a jazz album by alto saxophonist Lou Donaldson, released in 1958. The album was recorded for the Blue Note label, which was known for its focus on jazz music. Donaldson was already an established musician at the time of the album's release, having played with jazz legends such as Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, and Art Blakey. "Lou Takes Off" features Donaldson's signature style of bluesy, soulful jazz, with a lineup of talented musicians including trumpeter Donald Byrd, pianist Sonny Clark, bassist George Joyner, Curtis Fuller on trombone and drummer Art Taylor. The album's title is a play on words, as "take off" is a jazz term for improvisation. "Lou Takes Off" was well-received by critics and is now considered a classic of the hard bop era. It has since been reissued several times and continues to be enjoyed by jazz enthusiasts around the world.