Two From Jackie McLean: ''Jackie's Pal'' & ''A Long Drink Of The Blues''

Jackie McLean Quintet

''Jackie's Pal''
( LP Prestige Records, 1956 )
Catalog # PRLP 7068
* Also on Fantasy OJC 1714, OJCCD 1714-2

Tracklisting:
Sweet Doll
Just For Marty
Dee's Dilemma
Su-Blues
Steeplechase
It Could Happen to You

Personnel & Notes:
Bill Hardman (tp)
Jackie McLean (as)
Mal Waldron (p)
Paul Chambers (b)
Philly Joe Jones (d)
Recorded at Rudy Van Gelder Studio,
Hackensack, NJ, August 31, 1956

Review:

Here was Bill Hardman, who he introduced into a quintet with Mal Waldron (piano), Paul Chambers (bass) and Philly Joe Jones (drums). Hardman's hot breaking tone sounds a bit less forceful than on his (soon-to-be) later work with The Messengers, but it was already identifiable...Chambers has some exciting bowed spots, Mal Waldron was a bit bland and while Jones' drumming fills the role, it missed the push Art Taylor's drumming seemed to invite so often with McLean.
By Bob Rusch, Cadence (AMG)

Jackie McLean Quartet

''A Long Drink Of The Blues''
( LP New Jazz Records, 1957 )
Catalog # NJLP 8253
* Also on Fantasy OJC 253, OJCCD 253-2)

Tracklisting:
A Long Drink Of The Blues
(Jackie McLean (as) Gil Coggins (p) Paul Chambers (b)
Louis Hayes (d) Webster Young (tp) Curtis Fuller (tb)
Rudy Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, NJ, August 30, 1957)

Embraceable You
These Foolish Things
I Cover The Waterfront

Personnel & Notes:
Jackie McLean (as)
Mal Waldron (p)
Arthur Phipps (b)
Art Taylor (d)
Recorded at Rudy Van Gelder Studio,
Hackensack, NJ, February 15, 1957

Review:

This reissue begins with what is titled "Take 1" of "A Long Drink of the Blues." After a false start, the musicians argue for two minutes about the tempo; why was this ever released? "Take 2" is a much more successful 20-minute jam featuring Jackie McLean (doubling on alto and tenor), trombonist Curtis Fuller, trumpeter Webster Young, pianist Gil Coggins, bassist Paul Chambers, and drummer Louis Hayes. The second half of this reissue is from a quartet session that showcases McLean on three standard ballads with pianist Mal Waldron, bassist Arthur Phipps, and drummer Art Taylor. Although not quite as intense as McLean's later Blue Note dates, the ballad renditions show just how mature and original a soloist he was even at this early stage. Despite "Take 1," this set is worth getting.

By Scott Yanow (AMG)

By Pier