Jackie McLean • 4, 5 and 6 [1956]

 

Review by Michael G. Nastos
In 1956 Jackie McLean was only beginning to assert himself as a true individualist on the alto saxophone, exploring the lime-flavored microtones of his instrument that purists or the misinformed perceived as being off-key or out of tune. 4, 5 and 6 presents McLean's quartet on half the date, and tunes with an expanded quintet, and one sextet track -- thus the title. Mal Waldron, himself an unconventional pianist willing to explore different sizings and shadings of progressive jazz, is a wonderful complement for McLean's notions, with bassist Doug Watkins and drummer Art Taylor the impervious team everyone wanted for his rhythm section at the time. The quartet versions of "Sentimental Journey," "Why Was I Born?," and "When I Fall in Love" range from totally bluesy, to hard bop ribald, to pensive and hopeful, respectively. These are three great examples of McLean attempting to make the tunes his own, adding a flattened, self-effaced, almost grainy-faced texture to the music without concern for the perfectness of the melody. Donald Byrd joins the fray on his easygoing bopper "Contour," where complex is made simple and enjoyable, while Hank Mobley puts his tenor sax to the test on the lone and lengthy sextet track, a rousing version of Charlie Parker's risk-laden "Confirmation." It's Waldron's haunting ballad "Abstraction," with Byrd and McLean's quick replies, faint and dour, that somewhat illuminates the darker side. As a stand-alone recording, 4, 5 and 6 does not break barriers, but does foreshadow the future of McLean as an innovative musician in an all-too-purist mainstream jazz world.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/4-5-and-6-mw0000213611

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Reseña de Michael G. Nastos
En 1956, Jackie McLean apenas comenzaba a afirmarse como un verdadero individualista en el saxofón alto, explorando los microtonos con sabor a lima de su instrumento que los puristas o los mal informados percibían como desafinados o desafinados. 4, 5 y 6 presentan el cuarteto de McLean en la mitad de la fecha, y melodías con un quinteto ampliado y una pista de sexteto, de ahí el título. Mal Waldron, un pianista poco convencional dispuesto a explorar diferentes tamaños y matices del jazz progresivo, es un maravilloso complemento para las nociones de McLean, con el bajista Doug Watkins y el baterista Art Taylor, el equipo impermeable que todos querían para su sección rítmica en ese momento. Las versiones en cuarteto de "Sentimental Journey", "Why Was I Born?" y "When I Fall in Love" van desde el blues total hasta el hard bop obsceno, pasando por el pensativo y el esperanzado, respectivamente. Estos son tres grandes ejemplos de McLean intentando hacer suyas las melodías, añadiendo a la música una textura aplanada, modesta y casi granulada sin preocuparse por la perfección de la melodía. Donald Byrd se une a la refriega en su sencillo "Contour", donde lo complejo se vuelve simple y agradable, mientras que Hank Mobley pone a prueba su saxo tenor en la única y larga canción de sexteto, una versión conmovedora de la riesgosa "Confirmation" de Charlie Parker. ". Es la inquietante balada "Abstraction" de Waldron, con las rápidas respuestas de Byrd y McLean, débiles y severas, la que de alguna manera ilumina el lado más oscuro. Como grabación independiente, 4, 5 y 6 no rompe barreras, pero presagia el futuro de McLean como músico innovador en un mundo del jazz demasiado purista.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/4-5-and-6-mw0000213611

Tracks:
1 - Jackie McLean Quartet - Sentimental Journey
Written-By – Homer*, Green*, Brown*

2 - Jackie McLean Quartet - Why Was I Born?
Written-By – Kern-Hammerstein*

3 - Jackie McLean Quintet - Contour
Written-By – Kenny Drew

4 - Jackie McLean Sextet - Confirmation
Written-By – Charlie Parker

5 - Jackie McLean Quartet - When I Fall In Love
Written-By – Heyman*, Young*

6 - Jackie McLean Quintet - Abstraction
Written-By – Mal Waldron


Credits:
    Alto Saxophone – Jackie McLean
    Bass – Doug Watkins
    Cover – Weinstock*, Hannan*
    Drums – Arthur Taylor*
    Liner Notes – Ira Gitler
    Piano – Mal Waldron
    Recorded By – Van Gelder*
    Supervised By – Bob Weinstock
    Tenor Saxophone – Hank Mobley
    Trumpet – Donald Byrd

Recorded At – Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, New Jersey

Label:    Prestige – LP 7048, Prestige – PRLP 7048
Country:    US
Released:    1956
Genre:    Jazz
Style:    Hard Bop
https://www.discogs.com/release/5494709-Jackie-McLean-4-5-And-6

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