Search - Jackie Mclean :: New Soil

Pushes boundaries of hard bop onto a fruitful new plane

J. Levinson | Media, PA USA | 01/30/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"McLean's May 1959 recording shows the budding influence of the avant-garde, as later in the same month Ornette Coleman would record his landmark "Shape of Jazz to Come". "Minor Apprehension" gives Pete LaRoca a solo spot to display his rhythmic interpretation of the new school of jazz. Walter Davis "Greasy" is old school boogie-woogie, but Jackie's solo pushes it beyond the familiar and well-trodden. Donald Byrd is impressive right out of the gate, playing fast flurries of notes on his first solo, and he uses echo effectively in his "Sweet Cakes" solo. Paul Chambers gets a nice bowed solo on "Hip Strut". Jackie McLean - Sax (Alto)
Pete La Roca - Drums
Donald Byrd - Trumpet
Paul Chambers - Bass
Walter Davis, Jr. - Piano"

Several outstanding moments

R. J. Marsella | California | 02/23/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I picked this up immediately following a Jackie Mclean performance at the iridum in New York. Jackie can still blow by the way.
The arrangements here are all very strong and Jackie's tone and playing is crisp and very cool. The real surprise on this cd are the compositions from pianist Walter Davis Jr. His tunes are fantastic vehicles for this band to work out on. Davis' blues/stride piano style on track 3 lays a great foundation for some excellent soloing from both Jackie and Donald Byrd. Byrd is not as technically exciting as a Lee Morgan or Clifford Brown but is strong here and in combination with Mclean creates a nice overall effect. Paul Chambers is solid as always and the drumming of Pete La Roca is steady.
The Bluesy third track Greasy is a real standout and so is the final track Formidable. The rest of the cuts are good solid bop playing from a group that deserves to be checked out again."

Baby steps?

Timothy E. Barnes | Alexandria, VA United States | 01/08/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Finally, with Blue Note Jackie mclean and Co. were given the time and opportunity to practice/rehearse/jam before the tape started rolling. Not to disparage records like Mcleans Scene, Strange Blues, Alto-Madness etc... for they are wonderful but all are extremely loose and seem to tetter at times not emotionally but in a what the hell is coming next kind of way which is beautiful...its just on New Soil a little preconceiving seems to have let things grow unhindered. Donald Byrd on trumpet, Paul Chambers bass, Walter Davis Jr. piano, and Pete La Roca on drums...an oak-solid band who swing in and out of Mcleans furrowed like phrases...relentlessly. I highly recommend this music."