Bluesnik

Jackie McLean | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Blue Note Records
• ASIN: B000005HC6
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #350,177 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

From Grove Press Guide to Blues on CD

Alto saxophonist Jackie McLean appreciates how blues is the bone marrow of jazz. On a blues date in 1961 he exhibits creative spontaneity and wisdom beyond the ken of most twenty-eight-year-old improvisers. Trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, six years younger, is a rhythmic turbine of down-home inflections. Two alternate takes have been added for the CD. -- © Frank John Hadley 1993

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Jackie McLean's "Bluesnik" = Classic Blue Note Gem, June 12, 2001

By 

A. Douglas Robinson Jr. "adrobin" (Gastonia, North Carolina United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bluesnik (Audio CD)

Jackie McLean's "Bluesnik" is one of his best straight ahead bop sessions that he recorded for the Blue Note label. A few years after this session was made, Jackie ventured into a realm on the fine line between bebop and the avant-garde/free jazz of the 60s with albums like "Let Freedom Ring", "Destination Out" and "One Step Beyond". This album, however, was around the peak of Jackie's explorations that were solidly within the bop framework.

If you like Jackie McLean, classic Blue Note hardbop, or just innovative improvisational music by musicians who play with fiery passion restrained by the strength of their intellect - then this is the album for you.

"Bluesnik" features 6 songs that all have a "bluesy" mood even though they are not all technically blues in terms of their structure and harmonics.

Jackie McLean is his typical inspired self (did the man ever turn in an subpar effort?) and his solos show a penchant for the blues and convey a very deep visceral and emotional impact. The album features a supporting cast of Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, Kenny Drew on piano, Doug Watkins on bass, and Pete LaRoca on drums.

I disagree with the other reviewer who stated that Freddie Hubbard doesn't really perform well on this session. While Freddie Hubbard certainly turned in more inspired performances elsewhere - that is certainly not a negative reflection of his playing here. Rather, it is a reflection of his legendary performances as a sideman on such albums as "Speak No Evil", "Blues and the Abstract Truth", and "Maiden Voyage".

There is nothing particularly progressive about this music for its time - it is just high quality straight ahead jazz that will both mesmerize you on your first listen and adquately reward repeated listenings.

One word of caution, Jackie McLean is known for his sharp intonation on the alto sax. In my opinion, this is an integral part of his style which helps account for the uniqueness of his sound on the alto and for the emotive impact of his playing. However, for some listeners Jackie's intonation can be a distraction from the music. "Bluesnik" does feature some of the sharpest intonation in Jackie's discography.

If you are the type of person who insists on listening to soloists who play the saxophone with textbook intonation then you may get annoyed with Jackie's playing on "Bluesnik". However, if you are open to sounds that are not "technically" perfect but nonetheless perfectly fit the musical purposes of the artist employing them, then give "Bluesnik" a try. You won't be disappointed.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A document of transition, October 22, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Bluesnik (Audio CD)

No one can play alto without standing in Bird's shadow, but McLean came tantalizingly close--briefly--in the early 60's. This album, while on the surface 6 congenial blues, reveals real, potent depths on repeated listens. McLean's solos, especially on the title track, are an uneasy reconciliation between bebop and "out". They're always threatening to explode out of their harmonic boundaries. Which makes the music always exciting, sometimes breathtaking. I would have liked to hear more of McLean and less of Hubbard, who's a little too brassy for this, but I'll take what I can get. Buy this before it goes back out of print.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Straight Ahead Jackie Mac in Mono, March 5, 2009

By 

Tad Ulrich (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bluesnik (Audio CD)

Just for clarification, this review is based on the 2009 reissue of Bluesnik.

First off, this cd contains some great straight ahead blowing, particularly by the leader, the late great, Jackie McLean. The title track, Bluesnik features the best overall blowing of the session with passionate blowing from Jackie and I particularly like Kenny Drew's bright n' bouncy solo. Vastly underrated bassist Doug Watkins owns Drew's Blues with his pulsing walking bass lines setting the groove.

Unlike the previous 1987 release, Van Gelder elected to remaster this new one in mono just like he did with the recent reissue of the classic Soul Station by Hank Mobley. Why? Better ask him. Maybe it's 1950's nostalgia or something. I have the first 1987 issue, remastered by Ron McMaster in stereo and it sounds great. Ok, so we didn't get the extra photos n' fancy back then, but you can find them on the net if you Google Jackie.

Sound wise, for those who would care, it was Hubbard on the left channel, Jackie on the right and the rhythm section in the middle with the drums just slightly off to the right, the typical Van Gelder arrangement back then. I don't think you really miss anything sound wise with the new mono but good stereo just adds more interest and with all the nice sound systems nowadays, I feel cheated otherwise.

Whatever, this is a very nice and most welcome reissue from one of jazz's all time great alto saxophonists that belongs in any straight ahead bop collection.