Word of Jackie McLean’s passing spread like wildfire over the weekend. He died in his Hartford, CT home on Friday, aged 73. I don’t have much to say about it. He was one my favorite altoists. His Blue Note and Prestige work speaks for itself. The Steeplechase sides, especially the live ones, are exceptional albums too. I never delved too deep into his second Blue Note tenure or the sides on Triloka. I suppose there’s time enough for that now. Jackie coined one of my favorite quotes, one that I probably roll out far too frequently in my reviews. His own flowers were well earned if sporadically bestowed. Playing records seems like such a paltry and pedestrian way to pay tribute, but I’m off to revisit Right Now! and It’s Time! just the same.
Posted by derek on April 1, 2006 6:18 PMA generous man with a legacy that is just now barely being appreciated and probably won't be fully realized for years to come. I give props to Yahoo.com for posting his passing as one of their featured news stories.
Posted by: D Sanchez at April 3, 2006 1:40 AMI had the pleasure of interviewing him a year or so ago - wonderful guy. As for altoists, yeah, he's pretty damn near at the top of my list, if not at THE top. This really hit hard.
Posted by: clifford at April 3, 2006 10:12 AMA wonderful player who kept current with trends in jazz; Jackie didn't remain in a bop or hard bop mold- he heared and admired(and recorded with ) Ornette Coleman. One Step Beyond on Blue Note is my favorite McLean cd- a great record! He wil be missed!
Posted by: walt at April 6, 2006 3:21 PMJackie McLean's "Daily Warm-Up Excercises for Saxophone" is the finest book of it's kind I've ever used.
Posted by: howie at May 18, 2006 2:09 PM.................................................. © 2003 - 2006 bagatellen ..................................................