Customer Reviews

Fickle Sonance

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Jackie McLean's "A Fickle Sonance" is a most welcome addition to the Rudy Van Gelder Series. The RVG Edition marks the first time that this classic 1961 Blue Note session has been released domestically on CD. Joining Jackie on this great recording are Tommy Turrentine on trumpet (in a rare Blue Note session apart from his brother Stanley), Sonny Clark on piano, Butch Warren on bass and Billy Higgins on drums. Not only must Alfred Lion have approved of this lineup, but Sonny Clark must have as well, as he brought practically the same band (with Charlie Rouse instead of Jackie) into the studio not three weeks later to cut his classic "Leapin' And Lopin'." This rhythm trio would also be the genius behind Dexter Gordon's "Go," while Warren and Higgins would later team up with Herbie Hancock on Donald Byrd's "Royal Flush" (please put this out as an RVG!) and Herbie's "Takin' Off." The reason I mention this is not to show-off my encyclopedic knowledge, but to illustrate that these cats had lasting chemistry right from the start! Jackie was always aware of the jazz's latest progressions and it shows in the album's compositions. McLean authored two of the songs on this date, the ballad "Sudbued" and the adventurous title track (sorry Stuart, you are incorrect about this being Sonny's tune). Clark is credited with two contributions -- "Five Will Get You Ten" (which is actually a Monk tune called "Two Timer") and "Sundu" -- while Turrentine and even Warren contribute one each. "A Fickle Sonance" was truly a group effort that even the most fickle jazz enthusiasts will undoubtedly enjoy.

I learned today that Jackie McLean passed away at the age of 74. To remember his powerful sound and searching spirit, I stepped away from some of my gospel and funk stuff to revisit some of his music. I've got something like 10 Jackie Mclean albums, mostly on Blue Note. Along with Let Freedom Ring, this is one of my favorites.

The first cut is a really catchy swinging tune whose head will stick with you. I don't know how much work Tommy Turrentine and Jackie did together, but they have great chemistry and great balance. Billy Higgins swings hard and this is very cohesive group.

The second track sticks out for me as a rearrangement of "Embraceable You". I also like the Enitnerrut, with it's Afro-Cuban feel.

Jackie Mac has a sound that pierces you to the core. It's sharp and jagged. Flirts with freedom but never forgets its bop influences.

Jackie Mac's work has moved me and this CD is one of several great entry points to the life of a great musician, educator and spirit.

5 stars.

--SD

Jackie Mclean is one of my favorite artists that recorded for Blue Note in the 50's and 60's. His albums, the sidemen, the tunes, the cover art, and especially his playing is a treat for me.

I recently purchased another recording by him called Action, in which it was more avant garde and "Ornette Coleman" influenced. This session, of which is more "straight ahead" is a fantastic listen from start to finish.

There is such great variety on this cut. Every member of the group except drummer Billy Higgins contributed to the writing on the album. Sonny Clark's Five Will Get You Ten is a great opener. The rhythm's and of course the melody is fantastic. The other Sonny Clark original is Sundu, also a great track.

Mclean's A Fickle Sonance is the title track. Butch Warren sets this nice tempo, where Billy Higgins comes in next, and then the horns. It's pretty cool. Stanely Turrentine's brother, Tommy wrote Enitnerrut for the record. Don't try to say it; it's his last name spelled backwards. And according to Ira Gitler in the original liner notes, if you're the least bit backward, it won't be hard for you to figure out who wrote the tune.

Overall this album was great. Another classic RVG edition in the Blue Note catalogue. This album swings, and you'll dig it!

This CD (not to mention the Vinyl!!) is a must have for me, I say this because whenever I hear it I am bopping along all day huming and screeching to it. I do realize that there maybe other more significant works by other artist. But for me this disc represents the best of what was being offered at the time of its creation. In my mind this is jazz at some of its best!! I always come back to this album, because it features some of my favorite players doing what I consider to be some of their most exciting playing, do not cheat yourself out of the experience of hearing this disc, buy it now!

The*Hot*Wax*Kid

I guess you could say Jackie is somehwere between Lester Young and Charlie Parker and John Coltrane. He really is an eclectic, and that is why he is so interesting to listen to on this particular CD. He is extremely good on the title track because he stretches it out and realloy lays down some hard post bop music that just about anybody will enjoy because it is basically catchy music. I highly reccomend this CD and it should stand the test of time as to where Charlie Parker would have gone if he had stayed alive longer.

I second whoever said that! I love jazz an beebop and Jackie is making a lot of my playlists. This album is great!

Underrated disc of slightly more sublime proportion compared to similar dated early-mid career output, even if it can feel a little underdeveloped. With focus on more elaborate songwriting and looser chemistry, more personality seeps into the less regimented session.

This is just a general review on the whole RVG reissues that have been remastered over the past year and a half and released from Japan. The sound quality of these cd's is excellent,and the mini-LP sleeve packeging is a delight in nostalgia and presentation. The series is still ongoing, judging from the ads I read in Swing Journal which is a Japanese magazine that I subscribe to which keeps me abreast of the latest reissues there.If anyone is into serious jazz reissues, I suggest they try Japan for availability and variety. Its good to see Amazon.com offering these for sale as I have just relocated from Singapore (where they are available) and am still trying to find someone who will keep my supply up. The Riverside and Prestige series from Japan (also in mini-LP cases) are also fantastic series. Yes, they are pricey but I think serious collectors will find a way to overcome that!

I first heard this record several years ago, and thought the writing was disjointed; it was hard for me to "hear". But after re-visiting it recently, I find it much more interesting... the musicianship is not always perfect, and there's more than a little bit of McLean playing flat (was this in response to Konitz playing sharp...?). Anyway, the tunes are rich, and the soloing is really good. McLean plays really beautifully on his ballad "Subdued", at times sounding like Bird, but with Stitt's cleanness. So despite the pitch issues, I give it 5 stars for the feeling of "Subdued". If you're a Sonny Criss fan, you'll definitely dig his piano playing here.