Customer Reviews

Capuchin Swing

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Chronologically next up after "Swing, Swang, Swinging", this album took McLean away from the standards of that album, into an altogether more varied programme, with three of his own compositions, two from pianist Walter Bishop Jnr, and the 'standard' "Don't blame me". The result is an excellent mixture of styles with Paul Chambers on bass and Art Taylor on drums holding it together, McLean, Blue Mitchell and Walter Bishop all get extended solos.McLean blows excellently throughout, and Mitchell is an excellent counterpoint to his style, particularly on the blues. Favourite tracks for me are "Francisco" which alternates harmonically static interludes with straight ahead blues choruses, and on which McLean plays some intense solos. There's also some bowed bass playing from Chambers which adds to the fusion."Condition Blue" gives the whole ensemble opportunities to solo, with Bishop and McLean swopping chops. "On the Lion" is a great staright ahead chance for each of the frontline to solo.The remastering is excellent and the CD is highly recommended as an example of McLeans work in transition. As usual, the advice is buy it now, before Blue Note delete it again!

We all know that Jackie McLean made nothing but terrific albums for Blue Note during his first tenure there. Capuchin Swing, along with A Fickle Sonance, were two that I waited for at Tower till midnight so I could listen to it as soon as humanly possible. Jackie's tone is at it's peak, his ideas are constantly refreshing (40 years after it was recorded, even) and I cannot help but wonder why on earth more modern musicians aren't influenced by him. I own everything by Jackie, and hell, my band was even named after a quote in his liner notes to Let Freedom Ring. This is among the best McLean albums I own. Buy one for your home stereo, one for your car, and one for at work. You'll thank me later.

First, can anyone reading this tell me why Jackie McClean never quite got the same rep as guys like Cannonball, Kirk - - Dolphy... even Stitt??? As far as I'm concerned, with Parker being #1, Jackie was clear second with few players matching him in his effortless "Birdology" yet imaginative drive that was distinctly his own... If I were to name three all time sax players (beyond Bird), I'd say Dexter, Rollins and McClean and say so unapologetically. (In addition, he was a consistent player... I think the McClean brand name was a clear sign that you were in a for a GREAT session - - especially in *that* ear!)

As the liner notes have Art Taylor saying, "There's nothing flighty about Jackie's playing. He plays hard and to the point... Talking about soul - - that's real soul, none of that imitation jive..."

As for this album, for some reason I skipped over it (how the heck did I do that) but the second I got it, I heard myself shouting "Yeah!" by about the fifth bar... Now, don't get me wrong... its not just Jackie... on the opening number the band is cutting strong, with Art Taylor's drumming being particularly in the pocket and firing straight for the corner hall... Walter Bishop Jr. always lived up to his rep as a killer bop master... Mr. PC needing no introduction and BLUE MITCHELL standing second only to Lee Morgan in my book (*there's another guy who didn't get the leader rep he deserved!)

Speaking of that first track though... wow, does it swing... It alternates between a Latin thing and straight hard bop swing that's sort of reminiscent of a Horace Silver thing... Mr. PC also gets in a real hard bow solo that evolves into a walk... when the horns come back its sweet sweet swing swang swungeth heaven, with a rather clever ending too.

The second tune, Just For Now represents another surprise... showing Jackie's chops at a swinging, but more bouncy laid back temp... One thing I like about this CD is that typical to a lot of Blue Note stuff circa that era the ensembles really work well together... that said, when Jackie comes in, its like Babe Ruth up to bat at the bottom of the 8th or 9th (or whatever the heck they do in baseball...)

Next, DON'T BLAME ME featuring some deliciously intense brush playing by Taylor, Jackie humbly steps aside and lets his rhythm section work out. This is a key difference between Stitt and McClean. Stitt slaughtered his sidemen... McLean got 'em shining... That's one reason why although I love them both, McClean really's the one that most gets me going. Bish's locked hands chords are as rich as caramel on this one.

SIDE TWO...

CONDITION BLUE is an Art Blakey and the Jazz Messenger's type horn front line driven cooker... a great vehicle for BLUE too - - Jackie also stretches out with some ideas that show that although his bag was Bird centered he was anything but an imitator... On this tune he plays to space as Mr. PC and Art Taylor are right up on that ****** and getting it hard and you can tell that everyone is seriously INTO IT.

Next comes Capuchin Swing, another tune that goes from latin to swing and apparently is dedicated to Mr. Jones, his family's pet monkey... the interplay of the rhythm section and rapid change of moods as the musicians play through the form really engage the listener as McClean not only ride's the changes but takes on a whole new voice which like all the other tracks on the album give him that unpredictable edge that made McLean distinctly McClean. Bish gets in great solo on this one too... though Art Taylor is the one who's really having fun !

The set closer is the happy ON THE LION, a Walter Bishop composition dedicated to boss man Alfred Lion - and it takes it out well...

All in all, to call the playing on this session strong is obvious... and to call the entire session strong is almost an underachievement... Its straight through in your face hard swinging bop just the way I dig it and I hope you will to !

Without getting into the all the nuances and techical aspects of Jazz music, this is simply a classic stright out jazz CD that is a pleasure to listen to each and every time you put it in your player.

music that speaks for itself. Straight ahead jazz, none of this Lite Jazz crap that you hear nowadays (are you listening Kenny G?). Music that never goes out of style, Jackie McLean was a very under-rated musician in his time.

Although it is a perfectly swingin' old school, early 60's post-bop Jazz release from well rounded talent, besides for a few standout melodies, suffers from typical call-and-response formulaic trappings of front and center soloing over compelling interplay.