Jackie McLean Prestige vs Jackie McClean Blue Note POLL

[Peter Friedman]

I wouldn't want to be without either the Prestige sides or the Blue Notes.

If I had to choose say my six favorite recordings by Jackie McLean as leader,

there would be things from both labels represented.

Lights Out-Prestige

Jackie's Pal - Prestige

Bluesnik - Blue Note

A Fickle Sonance - Blue Note

and 2 more that would require some careful thinking?

[king ubu]

I strongly echo the feelings expressed above about the years 1963-65, or maybe rather 1962-66 or even '67 pr '68. "Demon's Dance" is growing here! And "Let Freedom Ring" should be included, too!

So it's BN all the way... of course the band with Draper and Webster Young is wonderful, too - but much of the Prestige music sounds somewhat rough and unfinished to me. Rough Jackie remained, his intense delivery was there all the time... but the music on those albums with Tolliver, Walter Davis, Hutcherson, Moncur... those are my favorites.

[Dan Gould]

I love my kids as adults but only up to a certain point. Then they made choices I simply can't support. But they had more money as adults and a better grasp of their capabilities, so before they went off on their own in search of their true selves, they were good. Real good.

Have I pushed Jim's analogy too far?

Not at all, because that "certain point" is where you can grow to understand how to love somebody who does things you don't understand, much less agree with.

Believe me, kids will do that to you in a big way...

I'm sure, except that my kids are short, hairy, walk on all fours, and don't speak clearly.

So the apple didn't fall far from the tree, eh?

No, they got that from their mother.

[TedR]

Weighing in with Jim's analogy, I believe in that classic Blood, Sweat and Tears' album title Child is Father to the Man. I enjoy seeing (hearing) the development take place. To have the entire range of recordings (Prestige, Blue Note and later)is invaluable.

[Pete C]

I believe in that classic Blood, Sweat and Tears' album title Child is Father to the Man.

That's certainly the one BST album to believe in!

[BeBop]

Bluesnik.

Listen to it.

Learn its lessons.

[Dan Gould]

Bluesnik was the album that really solidified my interest in Kenny Drew, iirc.

[Pete C]

Bluesnik was the album that really solidified my interest in Kenny Drew, iirc.

My Kenny Drew moment came in the Dexter Montmartre recordings.

[Chuck Nessa]

Bluesnik is one of my least favorites. I never really connected with it.

[BeBop]

Bluesnik is one of my least favorites. I never really connected with it.

For me, I'd say that my "connection" was really the result of an intellectual (laughing at myself) exercise. I don't think I appreciated Bluesnik until I put it into context - it's all variations on the blues. I keep that "blues" lower case, because it's not all 12-bar "classical" Blues. (Rather like St. Louis Blues or Birth of the Blues) It shows both the versatility of the form and the creativity of McLean, Drew and Hubbard, as composers.

[Stereojack]

Bluesnik is one of my least favorites. I never really connected with it.

For me, I'd say that my "connection" was really the result of an intellectual (laughing at myself) exercise. I don't think I appreciated Bluesnik until I put it into context - it's all variations on the blues. I keep that "blues" lower case, because it's not all 12-bar "classical" Blues. (Rather like St. Louis Blues or Birth of the Blues) It shows both the versatility of the form and the creativity of McLean, Drew and Hubbard, as composers.

I like "Bluesnik" a lot - always have. Different strokes, I guess.

[flat5]

My Kenny Drew moment was Stablemates on a Paul Chambers record featuring John Coltrane.

I like most anything by McLean except when he is about a quartertone sharp.

[mracz]

Blue Note. Although you're all encouraging me to listen to the Prestiges again. It's Lights Out that has stayed in my memory (Elmo Hope helps things along!). I love the Hutcherson/Moncur stuff as much for the writing and the ensemble vibe as for Jackie's own playing (which is wonderful in any case). There's a Blue Note twofer from the seventies with a quartet session with Larry Willis and the young Jack DeJohnette. I particularly remember a track called Moonscape. Lots of great music amongst the Blue Notes, and the ensemble concept varies considerably even within the space of a few years (say 1964-66 as in the Mosaic box set). BTW for me the sharpness is part of his sound/personality, and it doesn't usually bother me.

[John L]

I like most anything by McLean except when he is about a quartertone sharp.

That rules out quite a lot. When is McLean not sharp? That is his approach.

[flat5]

I like most anything by McLean except when he is about a quartertone sharp.

That rules out quite a lot. When is McLean not sharp? That is his approach.

Not early on and usually not a quarter-tone sharp.

When he gets ReallY sharp it can be too much for me to listen to a whole album!

This was later than the Prestige years.

Edited October 20, 2011 by flat5

[JSngry]

Early on, he had a tendency to play flat, actually.

[Uncle Skid]

I love threads like this. I voted Blue Note, but I'm going back to listen again.

Jackie!

[Leeway]

I voted for the Blue Note era, and it wasn't a hard choice, but I will say that the Prestige's capture Jackie as a beautiful time in his development, playing with a wonderful, keening, burning , youthful intensity, like a young Lord Byron of the saxophone.

[Gheorghe]

Bluesnik was the album that really solidified my interest in Kenny Drew, iirc.

My Kenny Drew moment came in the Dexter Montmartre recordings.

That´s it.

See, when I started to dig jazz, and of course Jackie McLean, it was a very rough period for record-buyers in my country. Most of the Blue Note albums where OOP and hard to purchase. The best way to listen to Jackie Mc Lean and of course Dexter was buying those Steeplechase records. That´s what I did. Great records are : live at the Montmatre 1972 with the long version of "Parker´s Mood", then "A Ghetto Lullaby", and of course the two albums with Dexter and Jackie together, all of them with Kenny Drew on piano. I especially liked what Jackie plays on "Rue de la Harp" and "Another HairDo" (where he also quotes 52nd Street Theme).

It was much later during the CD era, that I could purchase all the BlueNote albums, and many of the Prestige albums.

[BeBop]

Early on, he had a tendency to play flat, actually.

Like a major seventh flat? ;-)

[Guy Berger]

See, when I started to dig jazz, and of course Jackie McLean, it was a very rough period for record-buyers in my country. Most of the Blue Note albums where OOP and hard to purchase. The best way to listen to Jackie Mc Lean and of course Dexter was buying those Steeplechase records. That´s what I did. Great records are : live at the Montmatre 1972 with the long version of "Parker´s Mood", then "A Ghetto Lullaby", and of course the two albums with Dexter and Jackie together, all of them with Kenny Drew on piano. I especially liked what Jackie plays on "Rue de la Harp" and "Another HairDo" (where he also quotes 52nd Street Theme).

It was much later during the CD era, that I could purchase all the BlueNote albums, and many of the Prestige albums.

Someone on this board once noted Jackie's debt to Dexter as a player - that was a major epiphany to me as a listener.

[Gheorghe]

See, when I started to dig jazz, and of course Jackie McLean, it was a very rough period for record-buyers in my country. Most of the Blue Note albums where OOP and hard to purchase. The best way to listen to Jackie Mc Lean and of course Dexter was buying those Steeplechase records. That´s what I did. Great records are : live at the Montmatre 1972 with the long version of "Parker´s Mood", then "A Ghetto Lullaby", and of course the two albums with Dexter and Jackie together, all of them with Kenny Drew on piano. I especially liked what Jackie plays on "Rue de la Harp" and "Another HairDo" (where he also quotes 52nd Street Theme).

It was much later during the CD era, that I could purchase all the BlueNote albums, and many of the Prestige albums.

Someone on this board once noted Jackie's debt to Dexter as a player - that was a major epiphany to me as a listener.

Dexter was one of Jackie´s main inspirations when Jackie was a youngster. I think, the Savoy recordings from "Dexter Rides Again" inspired him very much. It is told, that Jackie, then an established master himself, was very exited by the possibility to play and record with his youth idol Dexter.

[Late]

Jackie as a ... keening, burning ... young Lord Byron of the saxophone.

Yes. Strange Blues.

[Milestones]

I voted for Blue Note in this very lopsided poll.

Lots of great work on BN. Anyone mention New and Old Gospel with Ornette?

It is also very worthwhile hearing Jackie on several Lee Morgan albums, such as Lee-Way and Tom Cat.

[Larry Kart]

Jackie on "Help" and "Beau Jack" from "Jackie McLean and Co." -- it's like he's opened up a vein, if that image isn't too creepy. Those performances just floored me back in the day, and they still do -- didn't think or know that musical/emotional expression of that sort was possible, though there was the example of Pee Wee Russell "Stuyvesant Blues" with Max Kaminsky (Jazztone).