Search - Jackie Mclean, The Cosmic Brotherhood :: N.Y. Calling

BEAUTIFUL, INCENDIARY PERFORMANCES: "New York" IS BURNING!!

RBSProds | Deep in the heart of Texas | 10/26/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Five Huge Stars!! Jackie McLean is ON FIRE. Aided and abetted by "the Cosmic Brotherhood', this is some of the best Jackie Mac on record. This Steeplechase recording is rather obsure, compared to the availability of his Blue Note recordings, but the music is certainly not obscure. And that is all the more reason to get it now before it goes out of print again. Trust me, at birth Rene McLean got the full genetic musical DNA transfer from Jackie. He has been celebrated in the song "Rene" by Jackie McLean for decades. He has become a musician of incredible skills as he roams over his multi-reed arsenal and lays down some killer solos, along side his Dad, trumpeter Skinner, drummer Carvin, and pianist Billy Gault. Plenty of solo time and extended theme time is alotted, giving the musicians time to lay out some really stupendous solos. Fish is a rock of resilient underpinning.



There are many fine performances on this recording but the title track, "New York Calling" (served up twice on this CD) is the 'Piece D'Resistance' and has been reverberating inside of my head for over a decade now. The theme and the orchestration is wonderfully stated by the ensemble and Jackie gets off a volcanic solo that ranks among his best. One fiery run in particular may set off your smoke alarm. LOL. The cosmic brotherhood consists of Jackie, Rene, Billy Gault on piano, the fiery Billy Skinner on trumpet; the superb James Fish Benjamin on bass, and some super muscular drumming from Michael Carvin. This is one to get. Highly Recommended~Five Huge Stars!!"