Customer Reviews

Long Drink of the Blues

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At the time of these recordings (1957),pianist Mal Waldron used to be Billie's accompanist.He plays on three of the four tunes of this album.The first session,producing the "long drink of the blues",includes Curtis Fuller,Paul Chambers,Louis Hayes;the second one,a quartet,includes Mal Waldron,Art Taylor,and Arthur Phipps.THis one is a jewel.The quartet plays three tunes that are deeply associated with Lady Day: "Embraceable you","I cover the waterfront" and "these foolish things".You can feel Billie singing behing Jackie's playing.This session could be named "the art of the ballad",Jackie plays with such emotion and authority.A few yaars later,a very few years,he will produce absolute masterpieces on Blue Note (Let freedom ring,Right now,Bluesnick,Destination out).If you love Billie,if you like great tunes,purchase this album,and find the two other Jackie & Mal records every jazz lover has to own.

The first side of this obscure but worthwhile session is a loosely-organized, extended jam session on a blues in the key of F, much like Jimmy Smith's celebrated "Sermon." The cast combines obscure players (Gil Coggins, Webster Young) with established stars (Curtis Fuller, who offers some of his best choruses on record; Paul Chambers, the heart of the rhythm section; the long-lived, much-traveled Louis Hayes).

But the main message is offered by Jackie, first a rare solo on tenor saxophone, then a quick costume change and he's back with his alto on the same tune. On both instruments he reveals, along with his command of the language of modern jazz and deep-rooted blues indebtedness, that always controversial but inescapable personal "sound"--raw, acidic, pungently sour, and slightly sharp. If he ever listened to and learned much from a Johnny Hodges or Paul Desmond, it's certainly not apparent in his playing from this period. He's like the talented, irrepressible kid with all of the tattoos and body piercings--hard for some of us instantly to embrace yet always in your face and winning your respect in spite of yourself.

It's good to have this obscurity rescued from oblivion.

If you dig Jackie this side will interest you greatly. It is the only recording of Jackie on tenor that i know of. You can hear a whole lot of Sonny Rollins here, but unmistably Jackie McLean.
Also there is a great argument between Jackie and Gil Coggins.
I love this side.
peace