Jackie McLean • 'Bout Soul

 

Review
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine  
'Bout Soul does not mean the same thing as soul-jazz, as the opening track "Soul" makes abundantly clear. Written by Grachan Moncur III and poet Barbara Simmons, "Soul" is a tonally free tone-poem that features Simmons' spoken recital. It's about what the concept of soul is, not what soul music is, and that should not come as a surprise to anyone acquainted with Jackie McLean's work. Even as his Blue Note contemporaries were working commercial soul-jazz grooves, McLean pushed the borders of jazz, embracing the avant-garde and free jazz. 'Bout Soul is one of his most explicit free albums, finding the alto saxophonist pushing a quintet -- trumpeter Woody Shaw (who sits out "Dear Nick, Dear John"), pianist Lamont Johnson, bassist Scotty Holt, drummer Rashied Ali -- into uncompromising, tonally free territory. This is intensely cerebral music that is nevertheless played with a fiery passion. Although the music was all composed, it is played as if it was invented on the spot. Fans of McLean's straight-ahead hard bop, or even of his adventurous mid-'60s sessions, might find this a little off-putting at first, but 'Bout Soul rewards close listening. It is one of McLean's finest modern contemporary sessions.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/bout-soul-mw0000028767

///////

Reseña
por Stephen Thomas Erlewine  
Bout Soul no significa lo mismo que soul-jazz, como deja bien claro el tema de apertura "Soul". Escrito por Grachan Moncur III y la poetisa Barbara Simmons, "Soul" es un poema tonal libre que cuenta con el recitado hablado de Simmons. Trata de lo que es el concepto de soul, no de lo que es la música soul, y eso no debería sorprender a nadie que conozca la obra de Jackie McLean. Incluso cuando sus contemporáneos de Blue Note trabajaban los ritmos comerciales del soul-jazz, McLean empujó las fronteras del jazz, abrazando la vanguardia y el free jazz. 'Bout Soul es uno de sus álbumes más explícitamente libres, en el que el saxofonista alto empuja a un quinteto -el trompetista Woody Shaw (que no participa en "Dear Nick, Dear John"), el pianista Lamont Johnson, el bajista Scotty Holt y el batería Rashied Ali- a un territorio sin concesiones y tonalmente libre. Se trata de música intensamente cerebral que, sin embargo, se toca con una pasión ardiente. Aunque toda la música está compuesta, se toca como si se hubiera inventado sobre la marcha. Los fans del hard bop directo de McLean, o incluso de sus sesiones aventureras de mediados de los 60, pueden encontrar esto un poco desconcertante al principio, pero 'Bout Soul recompensa una escucha atenta. Es una de las mejores sesiones contemporáneas de McLean.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/bout-soul-mw0000028767

Tracks:
1 - Soul 10:15
2 - Conversion Point 9:45
3 - Big Ben's Voice 10:06
4 - Dear Nick, Dear John 4:53
5 - Erdu 5:54
6 - Big Ben's Voice (Alternate Take) 9:55


Credits:
    Alto Saxophone – Jackie McLean
    Bass – Scotty Holt
    Design [Cover Design] – Forlenza Venosa Associates
    Drums – Rashied Ali
    Piano – LaMont Johnson (2)
    Trombone – Grachan Moncur III (tracks: 1, 2, 5)
    Trumpet – Woody Shaw (tracks: 1 to 3, 5, 6)
    Vocals – Barbara Simmons (tracks: 1)

Note:
Recorded By – Rudy Van Gelder / Recorded At – Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey
Recorded on September 8, 1967.
Track 6 is a bonus track.

Label:    Blue Note – BST 84284
Format:   
Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Country:    US
Released:    1968
Genre:    Jazz
Style:    Free Jazz
https://www.discogs.com/release/2146378-Jackie-McLean-Bout-Soul

MORE Jackie McLean ...

This file is intended only for preview!
I ask you to delete the file from your hard drive or device after reading it.
thank for the original uploader

 

Tip: Use JDownloader