Jackie McLEAN - A Long Drink of The Blues 1957

Jackie McLEAN - A Long Drink of The Blues  1957
Label: Ojc
Audio CD (March 10, 1994)

Jazz

This CD 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 CD is worth getting.

The first side of this obscure but worthwhile session is a loosely-organized, extended jam session on a blues in the key of F, much like Jimmy Smith's celebrated "Sermon." The cast combines obscure players (Gil Coggins, Webster Young) with established stars (Curtis Fuller, who offers some of his best choruses on record; Paul Chambers, the heart of the rhythm section; the long-lived, much-traveled Louis Hayes).

But the main message is offered by Jackie, first a rare solo on tenor saxophone, then a quick costume change and he's back with his alto on the same tune. On both instruments he reveals, along with his command of the language of modern jazz and deep-rooted blues indebtedness, that always controversial but inescapable personal "sound"--raw, acidic, pungently sour, and slightly sharp. If he ever listened to and learned much from a Johnny Hodges or Paul Desmond, it's certainly not apparent in his playing from this period. He's like the talented, irrepressible kid with all of the tattoos and body piercings--hard for some of us instantly to embrace yet always in your face and winning your respect in spite of yourself.

It's good to have this obscurity rescued from oblivion.

By  Samuel Chell.AMG.
**
Jackie McLean is a Professor of Music in Hartford, Connecticut, but he is still a world-class player who tours annually in Europe and Japan. This album, representing two different bands from two separate 1957 sessions, was done a few years before Jackie appeared as both actor and player in The Connection, but “A Long Drink of the Blues,” in two takes, has both dialogue (spontaneous) and blowing by McLean (on tenor sax as well as his more familiar alto), trombonist Curtis Fuller, and two legendary figures, trumpeter Webster Young and Brooklyn pianist Gil Coggins. The rest of the date, in contrast, finds Jackie (solely on alto) with pianist Mal Waldron, exploring three standard ballads in a highly subjective manner.

with Curtis Fuller, Webster Young, Gil Coggins, Paul Chambers, Louis Hayes, Mal Waldron, Arthur Phipps, Arthur Taylor
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1:
Webster Young- Trumpet
Curtis Fuller- Trombone
Jackie McLean- Alto sax
Gil Coggins- Piano
Paul Chambers- Bass
Louis Hayes- Drums
Recorded: Oct. 30, 1957

2-4:
Jackie McLean- Alto sax
Mal Waldron- Piano
Arthur Phipps- Bass
Art Taylor- Drums
Recorded: Feb. 15, 1957
**
01. Long Drink Of The Blues (take 1 and 2) 23.06
02. Embraceable You 4.48
03. I Cover The Waterfront 3.55
04. These Foolish Things 4.10
**
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