The collective discography of alto saxophonist Jackie McLean and pianist Mal Waldron remains as exceptional as it does sparse. This 2-CD collection reunites all of the quartet selections recorded during the Fifties, the most active period of their work together.
During the same period, McLean and Waldon also recorded quintet and sextet albums together under their own names.
Their most interesting collaborations were the quartet sides they recorded during the initial years of their musical careers, which are included here in their entirety for the first time. Most of these sessions were originally scattered over several albums, which also contained selections from larger groups. This is especially the case with the extended February 15, 1957 session, which was originally divided up and released on four different LPs!
With this in mind, the producers have added some quintet sessions (as a bonus to the complete McLean-Waldron quartet sides), including all the quintet/sextet tracks from the July 1956 sessions, plus the only two quintet sides from a February 8, 1957 session.
Tracklisting:
CD 1
01. Sentimental Journey 10:00
02. Why Was I Born? 5:16
03. When I Fall In Love 5:36
04. I Hear A Rhapsody 5:08
05. Embraceable You 7:07
06. I Never Knew 3:00
07. These Foolish Things 8:21
08. Love Is Here To Stay 4:21
09. I Cover The Waterfront 6:27
10. Whats New? 6:38
11. Old Folks 4:56
12. Bean And The Boys 8:33
Total time: 75:23 min.
CD 2
01. Strange Blues 7:34
02. Outburst 4:35
03. Left Alone 6:06
04. Contour 5:01*
05. Confirmation 11:26*
06. Abstraction 7:59*
07. Beau Jack 11:24*
08. Mirage 9:52*
Total time: 64:04 min.
(*) Bonus Tracks
Personnel:
Jackie McLean (as) and Mal Waldron (p) on all tracks, plus:
CD 1, tracks #1-3: Doug Watkins (b), Art Taylor (d).
Recorded in New Jersey, July 13 (tracks #1-2) and July 20 (track #3), 1956
CD 1, tracks #4-12 & CD 2 (tracks #1-2): Arthur Phipps (b), Art Taylor (d).
Recorded in New Jersey, February 15, 1957
CD 2, tracks #1-2: Arthur Phipps (b), Art Taylor (d).
Recorded in New Jersey, February 15, 1957
CD 2, track #3: Julian Euell (b), Al Dreares (d).
Recorded in New York, April 1960
CD 2, tracks #4-6: Donald Byrd (tp), Hank Mobley (ts), Doug Watkins (b), Art Taylor (d).
Recorded in New Jersey, July 13 (#4) & July 20 (#5-6), 1956
CD 2, tracks #7-8: Bill Hardman (tp), Doug Watkins (b), Art Taylor (d).
Recorded in Hackensack, New Jersey, February 8, 1957
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Reviews:
"Outstanding work from both Waldron and McLean. The two men made an excellent team, which makes this set well worth buying."
Greg Murphy -The Jazz Rag
"The improvised lines rich with invention. I have little choice but to recommend it heartily."
Bruce Crowther -Jazz Journal
