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Jackie McLean

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Jackie McLean was an American alto saxophonist, composer, bandleader and teacher. He was born on 17 May 1931 in Harlem. His father played guitar in Tiny Bradshaw's orchestra and died in 1939. After that Jackie was taught by his godfather, his stepfather, who owned a record shop, and a number of well-known teachers. Neighbours such as Thelonious Monk and Bud Powell gave him informal lessons. In 1951, at twenty years old, he played together with Sonny Rollins on Miles Davis's album Dig. He also recorded with Gene Ammons, with Charles Mingus for Pithecanthropus Erectus and with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers.

Music and breakthrough

His first records as a leader fall under hard bop. Later he became an interpreter of modal jazz, without letting go of his hard bop base. He was known for a tone of his own, which resembled that of a tenor saxophone and was often called bittersweet, piercing or searing, with a slightly sharp tuning and a strong feeling for the blues. In 1962 he recorded Let Freedom Ring for Blue Note, in which he combined ideas from Ornette Coleman's free jazz with hard bop. He had a good eye for talent and supported Tina Brooks, Charles Tolliver and Larry Willis, among others.

Influence

In 1967 Blue Note ended his contract and he concentrated on touring. From 1968 he taught at the Hartt School of the University of Hartford and in 1970 he founded, with his wife Dollie and the bassist Paul Brown, the Artists Collective in Hartford, an organisation for the culture of the African diaspora. In 2001 he received the American Jazz Masters fellowship. He died in 2006 and was inducted into the DownBeat Hall of Fame that year.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Let Freedom Ring and notice the tone of his alto saxophone: what sounds sharp and searing, and where does he break out of the harmonic framework?

Discography

Studio albums

See also

Categories: Artists