Customer Reviews

Destination Out

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4 star:		(1)
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Jackie McLean was one of the finest talent scouts in jazz history. Tony Williams, Charles Tolliver and Jack DeJoohnette were some of the musicians that made their name in McLeans groups. This record features two other incredible musicians he discovered:Vibist Bobby Hutcherson and (most importantly) trombonist and composer Grachan MoncurIII. Grachan wrote dark, almost mysterious sounding "modal" compositions that used very few chords and still sound unique today. Bobbys spare, spacey vibe sound also added a totally unique flavour. McLean had broken free of conventional hard-bop with the awesome "Let freedom ring". He then formed a group consisting of Williams, Moncur and Hutcherson (all almost totally unknown at that point),. The first record all three made together was "One Step Beyond" (out of print). That record consisted of music that was definitely steeped in the Bop tradition but also took it's cues from avantgarde jazz with Williams constantly changing drum patterns, McLean blowing wild, intense solos and Hutcherson giving the music a totally different sound with dissonant, percussive vibes. The fact that the group used vibes instead of piano was very important for the overall sound. They made an even greater record under Moncurs leadership, "Evolution" (also OOP, WHY???) which added Lee Morgan in a surprisingly explorative mood. If one wants to know where Dolphy got his inspiration for "Out to Lunch!", look no further than these records...

This record doesn't feature Williams, instead it's veteran Roy Haynes who drums which gives the record a somewhat more conventional feel. It doesn't matter much though, the group plays three awesome Moncur compositions and McLeans playing is more relaxed and secure in this environment than on the earlier records where his high-pitched screams sometimes becomes grating. Overall, this is a must-have!!!

PS Blue Note HAS to reissue "Evolution" and "One Step Beyond"!!! Records as good as these don't deserve to be out of print. Oh yeah, re-issue "It's Time" also...

One of my personal favorite jazz albums.
Love and Hate set the record off with a slow tempo meditation on its subject- setting the tone of the song is Hutcherson's vibes curdling out a slow painful vamp. Giving space to the song is Roy Haynes. Sparse drumming adding to the meditative feel of the song for the horns to solo on top of. McLean really seems to shine on this song weaving his solo so finely, that although played with great restraint comes through an intense passion.
The song is followed by Esoteric; by itself an incredible composition with all it's intricacies, I could imagine a difficult song for a band to play much in the same way a Thelonious Monk song would be. Similar as well to Hat and Beard by Eric Dolphy off of the Out to Lunch album which was release a year later (and who's inspiration of that song came from Monk)- Out to Lunch came of the same label (blue note) but was a more celebrated album I suppose for its more recognized line up of names- although Bobby Hutcherson was present for both. Esoteric is a great example of a superb composition both rhythmically and melodically that demands much of its players but when things fall into place those things really take off.
The third song on the set is in a much more traditional hard bop tone that was popular at the time. The lone Jackie McLean composition, Kahlil the Prophet; keeping in a 4/4 beat, the song seems mostly a platform for fantastic soloing.
Finally there's Riff Raff. The least ambitious of the three Moncur songs, not to say it doesn't go somewhere terrific. Very easy going in it's blues groove, it works as a good counterpoint to the "deeper" Esoteric and Love and Hate. Once again some great solos, Hutcherson's especially takes the whole groove and puts it on its head.
The album works with one side of avant garde jazz and the second side more traditional and solo based jazz. The playing is immaculate and inspired something that can be expected from just about any album you get from the Blue Note or Impulse labels of this time period. But this things gotta bug to it.

One of my personal favorite jazz albums.
Love and Hate set the record off with a slow tempo meditation on its subject- setting the tone of the song is Hutcherson's vibes curdling out a slow painful vamp. Giving space to the song is Roy Haynes. Sparse drumming adding to the meditative feel of the song for the horns to solo on top of. McLean really seems to shine on this song weaving his solo so finely, that although played with great restraint comes through an intense passion.
The song is followed by Esoteric; by itself an incredible composition with all it's intricacies, I could imagine a difficult song for a band to play much in the same way a Thelonious Monk song would be. Similar as well to Hat and Beard by Eric Dolphy off of the Out to Lunch album which was release a year later (and who's inspiration of that song came from Monk)- Out to Lunch came of the same label (blue note) but was a more celebrated album I suppose for its more recognized line up of names- although Bobby Hutcherson was present for both. Esoteric is a great example of a superb composition both rhythmically and melodically that demands much of its players but when things fall into place those things really take off.
The third song on the set is in a much more traditional hard bop tone that was popular at the time. The lone Jackie McLean composition, Kahlil the Prophet; keeping in a 4/4 beat, the song seems mostly a platform for fantastic soloing.
Finally there's Riff Raff. The least ambitious of the three Moncur songs, not to say it doesn't go somewhere terrific. Very easy going in it's blues groove, it works as a good counterpoint to the "deeper" Esoteric and Love and Hate. Once again some great solos, Hutcherson's especially takes the whole groove and puts it on its head.
The album works with one side of avant garde jazz and the second side more traditional and solo based jazz. The playing is immaculate and inspired something that can be expected from just about any album you get from the Blue Note or Impulse labels of this time period. But this things gotta bug to it.

Blue Note/EMI has once again made one of their classic albums available via the RVG series. Jackie McLean's "Destination Out" had appeared on CD before in the limited edition Connoisseur Series, but that edition recently went out-of-print. With this reissue, it makes a welcome, and hopefully permanent, return to the catalog. Jackie Mac made so many great albums for Blue Note that it is hard to rank them, but "Destination Out" has to be up their with the best of them. This is the second of three albums from 1963 that matched Grachan Moncur's trombone and Bobby Hutcherson's vibes with Jackie's alto -- the first was Jackie's "One Step Beyond" and the final one was Moncur's "Evolution" (both are prime candidates for RVG reissue though they are currently available from Mosaic Records in the Mosaic Select series). The lineup was phenomenal and one of the most forward thinking to that point on Blue Note. They truly paived the way for the more experimental albums on the label. The only thing this album lacks that the other two benefit from is the free-wheeling drumming of a young Tony Williams. However, Roy Haynes who sits in the throne for the session is no slouch either. In all, "Destination Out" is truly out of this world.

This CD would be better titled Destination Out of this World. Here McLean joins up with Grachan Moncur, and Bobby Hutcherson to create one of the all time masterpieces of jazz. Grachan Moncur is really the muse here. All of the songs are either written by Grachan, or heavily influenced by his compositional style. This album, features a very similar lineup to One Step Beyond. However, this is the one to get if you can only get one. Although the critical reviews of One Step are a little bit better, this album really digs deeper into what this group was all about, and that is mood. This album is just drenched in a foggy surreal, reflective mood. The deep brooding lines of Moncur's trombone combined by with the vibes of Hutcherson is something that every jazz fan must here. It really gets deep into your bones. Jackie McLean is great player, with an open mind and a creative flair. He could play with any group and this CD is no exception. If anyone else was the leader they would have messed up the chemistry, but Jackie fits in perfectly and adds in impressive solos and makes a great album into one of the best all time albums. Absolutely esstential for every jazz fan and every jazz collection.

There is a myth in jazz accidemics that the 1960s were the avant gaurd vs the be-boppers. Read histories and you'll get the idea that was all that was happening.

What a bunch of garbage: people remember this era in jazz for the amount of amazing work going on. Free jazz, Mingus's orchestral experiments, fusion, Don Ellis' stews, and much more.

That much more includes a chamber jazz that mixed avant gaurde and traditional ideas. Eric Dolphy's Out To Lunch and this record personafy this type of music.

1963s Destination Out has four pieces: these work around McClean's minimalistic alto sax playing, Bobby Hutcherson's vibes, Grechen Moncur's trombone, Roy Haynes on drums and Larry Ridley on bass.

These numbers range from slow blues essays with a lot of subtitutions to compositions like "Esoteric." Every track is outstanding, but let me take "Esoteric" to explain why Destiantion Out is so essential to any music lover. It is not, like Albert Ayler or Cecil Taylor at this time, that the players work outside the tonal centers. There are firmly laid chords in this music, and the musicians stay "inside" these changes.

But there is huge ammounts of couterpoint in this music: two notes a half tone apart create the framework of "Esoteric." The dissonence is not from the notes going against each other or the soloist going against the base note. It is that the notes are lined up in ways we usually don't hear, and these create tension. The tension is not in the soloing, but in the way the music is composed.

All this is accidemic and I appologize for boring you with this. You really have to hear Destination Out! Once you do, you will forget all the unimportant technical aspects of this music and be swept by its increadible emotional power. I first heard "Esoteric" eight years ago and it is as powerful now as the day when I was uncontrolably compelled to buy this record. I cannot do this record justice and cannot recommened it highly enough.

An aside: if jazz historians think Impulse! was the cutting edge labal and Blue Note was the kinder and gentler counterpart, professor, go back and hear this masterpiece again.

I don't know if McCLean and crew ever got out to their destination, but Destination Out is a trip we ALL need to take.

I bought this cd from Amazon at the same time as Jacknife and Capuchin Swing. Although the other two were good, this one was clearly the best of the three. It has a unique use of space and timing that I have not heard for a long time. Although the music does not cross the line into atonality it sometimes gets close to the edge, which is difficult to maintain. There are different time signatures in use and although I have heard his saxophone style described sometimes as shrieks, I did not find it hard to listen to. Jackie McLean was willing to take chances and not stay in one style for his entire career, which is commendable for an artist. Although it is different I find myself listening to it over and over again. I plan to get others if I can connvince my wife. If you want to step into the waters of something new I would recommend this CD. It is at a very good price now.

Jackie McLean made so many great albums for Blue Note that it is hard to rank them, but "Destination Out" has to be up their with the best of them. This is the second of three albums from 1963 that matched Grachan Moncur's trombone and Bobby Hutcherson's vibes with Jackie's alto -- the first was Jackie's "One Step Beyond" and the final one was Moncur's "Evolution." The lineup was phenomenal and one of the most forward thinking to that point on Blue Note. They truly paived the way for the more experimental albums on the label. The only thing this album lacks that the other two benefit from is the free-wheeling drumming of a young Tony Williams. However, Roy Haynes who sits in the throne for the session is no slouch. "Destination Out" is truly out of this world.

This CD would be better titled Destination Out of this World. Here McLean joins up with Grachan Moncur, and Bobby Hutcherson to create one of the all time masterpieces of jazz. Grachan Moncur is really the muse here. All of the songs are either written by Grachan, or heavily influenced by his compositional style. This album, features a very similar lineup to One Step Beyond. However, this is the one to get if you can only get one. Although the critical reviews of One Step are a little bit better, this album really digs deeper into what this group was all about, and that is mood. This album is just drenched in a foggy surreal, reflective mood. The deep brooding lines of Moncur's trombone combined by with the vibes of Hutcherson is something that every jazz fan must here. It really gets deep into your bones. Jackie McLean is great player, with an open mind and a creative flair. He could play with any group and this CD is no exception. If anyone else was the leader they would have messed up the chemistry, but Jackie fits in perfectly and adds in impressive solos and makes a great album into one of the best all time albums. Absolutely esstential for every jazz fan and every jazz collection.

Shimmering old-school "psychedelic" Jazz benefits from the mild experimentation and Xylophone-heavy undercurrent keeping things relatively fresh and allowing the dated mystique to stick.