Jackie McLean Jackies Bag (1959/60) Blue Note

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Artists Side 1: Donald Byrd (t) Jackie McLean (as) Sonny Clark (p) Paul Chambers (b) Philly Joe Jones (d) recorded Rudy Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, NJ, January 18, 1959 Side 1 selection: Blues Inn (Mclean) Side 2: Blue Mitchell (t) … Continue reading →

Jackie McLean Destination… Out! (1963) Blue Note

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Track Selection 1: Kahlil the Prophet (Mclean) …” Using a hard bop lyric and a shape-shifting sense of harmonic interplay between the three front-line players, McLean moves deeply into a blues groove without giving into mere 4/4 time structures. The architecture … Continue reading →

The Evil Silver Disk

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Rules are made for breaking, sometimes. For a change I thought I would open up a post dedicated to the evil silver disk, the only way to enjoy some of the greatest jazz ever recorded, that would otherwise fall between the … Continue reading →

Art Blakey Ritual! (1957) Pacific Jazz

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Track Selection: Sam’s Tune Artists Bill Hardman (tp) Jackie McLean (as) Sam Dockery (p) Spanky DeBrest (b) Art Blakey (d) recorded NYC, January 14 and February 11, 1957 Music: Hard bop – Mclean and Hardiman top of their game. It is Blakey’s album, and features … Continue reading →

Jackie McLean “Action” (1964)

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Track Selection: Hootnan Artists Charles Tolliver (tp) Jackie McLean (as) Bobby Hutcherson (vib) Cecil McBee (b) Billy Higgins (d) recorded Rudy Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, September 16, 1964 Music: Recorded in 1964 on the coat tails of some of McLean’s best titles One … Continue reading →

Freddie Redd “Shades of Redd” (1960) Part II The cover arrives…

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Track selection: Blue Blues Blues Artists Jackie McLean (as) Tina Brooks (ts) Freddie Redd (p) Paul Chambers (b) Louis Hayes (d) recorded Rudy Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, August 13, 1960 The story so far… For anyone who has … Continue reading →

Freddie Redd “music from The Connection” (1960)

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Selected Track: “Wigglin’ ” I> BN 4027 Freddie Redd Music from The Connection: Jackie McLean (as) Freddie Redd (p) Mike Mattos (b) Larry Ritchie (d) Rudy Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, February 15, 1960 Following an upgrade to an original pressing, … Continue reading →

Jackie McLean Quintet int. Bill Hardman “Jackies Pal” (1956)

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Track Selection: “Sweet Doll” > Jackie McLean Quintet Introducing Bill Hardman -  Bill Hardman (tp) Jackie McLean (as) Mal Waldron (p) Paul Chambers (b) Philly Joe Jones (d)  Hackensack, N.J., August 31, 1956 Couldn’t resist posting this UK-Esquire release as … Continue reading →

The Connection: Which Twin has the Toni?

Something new, a competition, and you get to decide which version you prefer! The stage is set for Freddie Redd’s Music from “The Connection”, the track, the poignant “Theme for Sister Salvation”

First contender the original New York cast soundtrack on Blue Note, with Jackie McClean (click the arrow below to hear audio player, click on bars to adust volume)

Next up we have the official understudy to Jackie in “The Connection” stage play,  Tina Brooks, in the alternative recording on Felsted Records (Close the flash audio player above by clicking the double-bar on its right, or it will play on top of the next audio sample)

Due to contractual problems Freddie Redd - the composer – performs under the pseudonym “I Ching”, Howard McGhee lead on trumpet, and Tina Brooks takes the honours on saxophone in place of Jackie McClean. Everyone knows the Blue Note 4027 from 1960. very few know the ultra rare Felsted alternative. Despite its poorer audio quality, the Felsted version showcases the extraordinary emotional  drive of Tina Brooks, and Freddie’s triumphant piano solo, which clutches at the heartstrings as it strains at holding the key

I know which I prefer. Any views out there?

Freddie Redd: Flying Economy Class? Upgrade to “Blue Note Class”

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Collectors Corner You probably have a list of records which you would most dearly like to own an original of, the best possible copy. Mine is a half dozen titles long, and whenever I see one come up on eBay, it … Continue reading →

Jackie Mclean “New and Old Gospel” (1967)

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Track Selection:  ”Strange as it Seems” (Excerpt) Artists Ornette Coleman (tp) Jackie McLean (as) Lamont Johnson (p) Scott Holt (b) Billy Higgins (d) recorded Rudy Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, March 24, 1967 Music The music – a  convergence … Continue reading →