Jazz resources don’t come much more precious these days than Lou Donaldson. And don’t even think of just consigning him only to status as Soul Jazz Royalty either (though he’s all of that, in the music that once held such sway at places like the Pine Grille and the Bon-Ton).

It’s in the world of bebop, really, that Donaldson is one of the remaining wonders of the world. He isn’t exactly the last man standing (if you’ll forgive the military phrase), but he’s certainly one of very few.

He is, at 83, one of the truly great active figures in hard bop. He was born Nov. 3, 1926, which means that he has long outlived his near-exact contemporaries Miles Davis and John Coltrane. Only Randy Weston, among the jazz luminaries of 1926, continues to be a conspicuous presence in jazz. (And even they are soundly thrashed by pianist Hank Jones, still releasing discs in his 90s.)

Where his soul jazz beauties were once the staples of chitlin circuit jukeboxes and those in the better bars all over America, Donaldson is one of the last touring direct links to the alto saxophone style Charlie Parker gave to everyone from Sonny Stitt to Phil Woods and Cannonball Adderly.

And if you’re not prepared for how good Donaldson can be in that style, he can knock you out of your socks.

He’s one of the great additions to the Albright-Knox Gallery Hunt Real Estate Art of Jazz series this year.

Appearing with the truly venerable jazz alto saxophonist at 8 p. m. Saturday is guitarist Randy Johnston, Hammond B-3 organist Akiko Tsuruga and drummer Fukushi Tainaka. Those last two names of Japanese musicians should tell you how deeply immersed an entire world has become in the kind of music of which Donaldson has become one of the great living apostles.

At 7 p. m., series programmer Bruce Eaton will discuss “Preserving Buffalo’s Jazz History” with Al Wallack, former music director of WNED-AM, and local band-leader and radio personality Macy Favor. Wallack will talk about his efforts to document the life of the late Buffalo bebop pianist Al Tinney on film and Favor will discus the history initiatives of Buffalo’s Colored Musician’s Club.

PREVIEW

WHO: Art of Jazz Series with the Lou Donaldson Quartet

WHEN: 8 p. m. Saturday (preconcert talk at 7 p. m.)

WHERE: Albright-Knox Art Gallery, 1285 Elmwood Ave.

TICKETS: $30 INFO: 270-8292