Search - Jackie Mclean :: It's Time

"It's Time" This Came Out in the U.S.

Michael B. Richman | Portland, Maine USA | 06/26/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Neglected for years in Blue Note's various reissue series, Jackie McLean's brilliant Blue Note albums from 1964-66 are finally being released on CD domestically. For the longest time, only the amazing quartet album "Right Now" was available in the States (see my review), but within the last couple of years, five of the alto saxophonist's six sessions from this period have made it to disc. I suppose this is nothing new for these albums by Jackie Mack. Only "It's Time," "Action" and "Right Now" were originally released at the time of their recording in the 60s, and it wasn't until the late 70s that the phenomenal dates that comprised "Jackknife," "Consequence" and "High Frequency" (still MIA) were even put to vinyl.



Now with this Connoisseur reissue, it's time for many jazz fans to get a first listen of Jackie's first 1964 session. A sensational, impassioned quintet session, "It's Time" is as good as anything recorded for Blue Note from that watershed year (think "Speak No Evil," "Out To Lunch," "Point of Departure," "Inner Urge"). McLean, the man who can take credit for bringing Tony Williams and Bobby Hutcherson to the Blue Note fold, has assembled another stellar group, with the young Charles Tolliver on trumpet, Herbie Hancock on piano, Cecil McBee on bass and Roy Haynes on drums. The material on this session is experimental, but grounded firmly in the Blue Note tradition, similar to Andrew Hill's sessions or Hancock's "Empyrean Isles." This is classic stuff, and finally you don't have to plunk down big bucks for the import title."

"It's Time" For This To Get Released Domestically

Michael B. Richman | Portland, Maine USA | 09/19/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"With all the wonderful Blue Note reissues of the last few years, it's a shame that Jackie McLean's brilliant albums from 1964-66 have not been released on CD domestically. The amazing quartet album "Right Now" is the only disc ever released in the States. Unfortunately, this is nothing new for these albums by Jackie Mack. Only "It's Time," "Action" and "Right Now" were originally released at the time of their recording in the 60s, and it wasn't until the late 70s that the phenomenal dates that comprised "Jackknife," "Consequence" and "High Frequency" were put to vinyl. Thankfully, the Mosaic Company released all six of these albums in a limited edition box set a few years back, but now that too is out of print.Until wiser heads prevail at EMI, you can at least get a glimpse at these marvelous recordings with the import CD version of Jackie's first 1964 session, "It's Time." A sensational, impassioned quintet session, "It's Time" is as good as anything recorded for Blue Note from that watershed year of 1964 (think "Speak No Evil," "Out To Lunch," "Point of Departure," "Inner Urge"). McLean, the man who can take credit for bringing Tony Williams and Bobby Hutcherson to the Blue Note fold, has assembled another stellar group, including the young Charles Tolliver on trumpet, Herbie Hancock on piano, Cecil McBee on bass and Roy Haynes on drums. The material on this session is experimental, but grounded firmly in the Blue Note tradition, similar to Andrew Hill's sessions or Hancock's "Empyrean Isles." I'll be shocked if this doesn't get released in the U.S. through the RVG or Connoisseur series, particularly with the Mosaic set now being sold out. (Similar things have happened when other Mosaics have sold out -- when the Art Blakey and Larry Young sets went out of print, we began to see individual titles made available on Blue Note.) But then again we've never seen Sam Rivers' titles made available. This is classic stuff, and plunking down big bucks for the import will be a worthwhile investment."

Worth owning if only for Charles Tolliver.

Schoolkids MI | Michigan | 05/24/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Very much recommended as it's the first recording (I believe) for the great and under-recorded trumpeter and composer Charles Tolliver. The tilte cut seems to me to have a sloppy head, but that said, the playing throughout is excellent. The Cd features three Tolliver compositions and Tolliver's playing is intelligent and visceral.With leader McLean, Herbie Hancock, Cecil Mcbee and Roy Haynes..what's not to like. I always loved this era of Bluenote,straddling free jazz and post bop."