RIP Jackie McLean

Damn.

What can I say? A giant is gone, one who never really got his due. His records with Grachan Moncur and Bobby Hutcherson -- One Step Beyond and Destination Out -- are two of the greatest albums in jazz, and remain a wellspring of inspiration for me and many others. Maybe at some point I will write an extended post about the amazing music on these discs -- for now, I'm too sad to write much of anything.

Matana has more.

Hartford Courant obit.

Also, Stan Simpson's heartfelt column in the Courant.

A remembrance from a student of Dr. Jackle.

HenryCow (Daily Kos)

Rob (Start Drinking Coffee)

Julian Chan, a young Malasian alto player.

Nick Ruechel (Jazz (Revisited))

Jeff Parker writes:

Jackie McLean was my hero when I was in college. The thing I always dug about his playing was his level of conviction - he sounded like he was gonna die if he didn't play, often times he sounded like he was going to explode. He always sounded as if he was struggling with something in his music. His music was so honest, so emotionally direct. Most musicians I knew back then (in college) couldn't stand his playing, and my defense of him was often the subject of many debates. His intonation was consistently sharp, sometimes almost an entire semitone, and his tone was bright. The combination of the two could sound pretty abrasive. But his time was always perfect, and his harmonic sense very advanced. And NOBODY could swing like Jackie McLean. He had the type of time and rhythm that could carry a band, just like his hero and mentor, Charlie Parker. There was so much humanity in his music, so much HEART.

Carl Abernathy (Cahl's Juke Joint)

Jaleel Shaw

Kellen (Song With Orange)

Greg Kline (Mr. Greg's Musings

Nils (The Mandatory Sentence)

Tim (Some Ramblings From Mr. Gueguen)

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