Jackie McLean
Jackie McLean has long had his own sound, played slightly sharp and with great intensity; he is recognizable within two notes. McLean was one of the few bop-oriented players of the early '50s who explored free jazz in the '60s, widening his emotional range and drawing from the new music qualities that fit his musical personality.
The son of guitarist John McLean (who played guitar with Tiny Bradshaw), Jackie started on alto when he was 15. As a teenager he was friends with such neighbors as Bud Powell, Thelonious Monk, and Sonny Rollins. He made his recording debut with Miles Davis in 1951 and the rest of the decade could be considered his apprenticeship. McLean worked with George Wallington, Charles Mingus, and Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers (1956-1958). He also participated on a string of jam session-flavored records for Prestige and New Jazz which, due to the abysmal pay and his developing style, he later disowned. Actually they are not bad but pale in comparison to McLean's classic series of 21 Blue Note albums (1959-1967). On sessions such as One Step Beyond and Destination Out, McLean really stretches and challenges himself; this music is quite original and intense yet logical. McLean also appeared as a sideman on some sessions for Blue Note (most notably with Tina Brooks, acted in the stage play The Connection (1959-1961), and led his own groups on a regular basis. By 1968, however, he was moving into the jazz education field and other than some SteepleChase records from 1972-1974 (including two meetings with his early idol Dexter Gordon) and an outing for RCA (1978-1979), McLean was less active as a player during the '70s. However in the '80s Jackie McLean returned to a more active playing schedule (sometimes with his son René McLean on tenor), recording for Triloka, Antilles, and most recently (with a renewed relationship) with Blue Note -- without losing the intensity and passion of his earlier days.
© Scott Yanow /TiVo
Similar artists
-
Classic Mclean, Vol. 2: New Soil
Jazz - Released by Top Tracks on 30 Oct 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
-
Makin' the Changes (Album of 1960)
Pop - Released by Jazz Classics on 1 Aug 1960
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
What's New, Vol. 1
Jazz - Released by Diamond Days on 18 Jul 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bluesnik (Original Album 1961)
Jazz - Released by Jazz Classics on 1 Feb 1962
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Complete Jubilee Sessions
Jazz - Released by Plenty Jazz Records on 29 Jun 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
You've Got to Share: Songs for Children
Don McLean, Jackie McLean, Wyatt McLean
Children - Released by StarVista Music on 1 Jan 2003
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The King of Jazz Story - All Original Recordings - Remastered
Jazz - Released by Silver Classics Jazz on 6 Mar 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
-
-
Jackie's Bag (Original Album 1959)
Jazz - Released by Jazz Classics on 1 Jul 1961
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
A Fickle Sonance (Original Album 1961)
Jazz - Released by Jazz Classics on 1 Nov 1962
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
4, 5 and 6 (Original Album 1956)
Jazz - Released by Jazz Classics on 1 Nov 1956
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Four Classic Albums (Lights out! / a Fickle Sonance / Capuchin Swing / Bluesnik) (Digitally Remastered)
Jazz - Released by AVID Jazz on 2 Mar 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Ultimate Jazz Sessions
Jazz - Released by Master Classics Records on 1 Mar 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
The Connection (Bonus Track Version)
Jazz - Released by Icon Jazz Series on 4 Aug 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
A Jazz Conversation
Jazz - Released by Bubble Jazz Records on 30 Jun 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jazz After Midnight
Jazz - Released by Silver Classics Jazz on 15 Apr 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo