Need Recommendations: Jackie McLean

[mulderxcoltrane]

Hi everyone,

I wanted some advice on "can't miss" Jackie McLean studio albums.

I'm a huge fan of tenor sax and love bop (Dexter Gordon, Early Coltrane) but NOT avant garde (late Coltrane).

Any advice/recommendations?

[HutchFan]

Welcome to the forum.

My favorite Jackie McLean record is Action.


with Charles Tolliver, Bobby Hutcherson, Cecil McBee, & Billy Higgins

To my ears, it's not as "out" as, say, Destination... Out! or One Step Beyond. But it's not exactly bebop either. Maybe free-bop? Whatever it is, it swings.

If you listen to some samples and Action is too much, then I'd recommend Bluesnik.

[HutchFan]

Originally Posted by mulderxcoltrane

I'm a huge fan of tenor sax and love bop (Dexter Gordon, Early Coltrane) but NOT avant garde (late Coltrane).

You probably know this already but just in case... Jackie played alto sax, not tenor.

[JBH]

Here's some of my favorite Jackie Mclean albums:

- A Fickle Sonance
- Jackie's Bag
- Let Freedom Ring
- Right Now
- Action
- Demon's Dance
- Jacknife
- (stuff with Grachan Moncur III, especially Hipnosis)

Enjoy!

[mulderxcoltrane]

Originally Posted by HutchFan

You probably know this already but just in case... Jackie played alto sax, not tenor.

Yes, I know.

He has played with some of my favorite tenors, so I guess I was trying to provide context of my "likes." Sorry if it threw anyone off.

[walkin]

I agree with the above picks though be sure to check out his Prestige era stuff:
4,5 And 6
Lights Out
A Long Drink Of The Blues


My favorite one is Destination Out

[mulderxcoltrane]

Originally Posted by HutchFan

Welcome to the forum.

My favorite Jackie McLean record is Action.


with Charles Tolliver, Bobby Hutcherson, Cecil McBee, & Billy Higgins

To my ears, it's not as "out" as, say, Destination... Out! or One Step Beyond. But it's not exactly bebop either. Maybe free-bop? Whatever it is, it swings.

If you listen to some samples and Action is too much, then I'd recommend Bluesnik.

Yes, "Action" is too much.

[mulderxcoltrane]

Originally Posted by walkin

I agree with the above picks though be sure to check out his Prestige era stuff:
4,5 And 6
Lights Out
A Long Drink Of The Blues


My favorite one is Destination Out

Are these albums in the realm of avant garde?

[v1p]

Jackie is one of my all-time favorite artists (along with Eric Dolphy, Andrew Hill and Bobby Hutcherson) and in my estimation his masterwork is "Destination Out", but you can't go wrong with any of his Blue Notes. For more accessible Jackie look no further than his pre-63 stuff - like HutchFan said, "Bluesnik" for example is a great one to start with (but have in mind that by that time he was already developing his trademark sharp, acidic sound that may not be to your taste yet).

[Justin V]

I second the Jacknife recommendation.

As a sideman:

[HutchFan]

Originally Posted by mulderxcoltrane

Are these albums in the realm of avant garde?

No. Straight-forward bop.

[v1p]

HutchFan, we are still waiting for your book. BTW, not so long ago my mother told me I have to write something about Jazz and my obsession with it.

[Marcello]

I've always loved "New Soil"



This one is burning:

[princeplanet]

Something tells me you'll also dig Jackie's Bag and Fickle Sonance. I dig that period too, before the more "out" period. I don't even mind hearing those Bird lines, infact, I think I prefer the way JM plays them in those early 60's "hard bop" settings to the Parker 40's and 50's recordings.

Don't get me wrong, Parker is the man, for sure, but Jackie put his own twist on it, of course , and may very well be maybe the hippest of Bird's "children".

And that's saying something when you consider Cannonball, McPherson, Donaldson, Stitt, Woods, Thompson etc....

[Buddha]

I like Jackie's Bag as well. On various cuts, you can hear Donald Byrd or Blue Mitchell on trumpet, Tina Brooks on tenor, Sonny Clark or Kenny Drew on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Philly Joe Jones or Art Taylor on drums. Good solid Hard Bop recording.