Let Freedom Ring

This remaster totally ruined the excellent RVG recording. The highs are boosted too much. I can't believe Blue Note approved the sound, or they never checked it. (This CD is usable only if you have a way to apply a 5KHz -6dB/Oct or even -12dB/Oct high-cut filter when playback.)

Let Freedom Ring arrived promptly in excellent condition as described. For jazz fans it is truly classic Jackie McLean album, a little further out than normal, with the acerbic edge Jackie brought to all his music.I am enjoying it

When 'the search' begun as the altoist states in the original notes, Jackie McLean was only stretching the limits of bebop - hard bop music he already is a known Master in. Music that today seems quite familiar but in those years, as previous Ornette's music, marked new ways of expressions in Afro-American music history. A great record in a stream of wonderful Blue Note recordings from the great altoist.

Probably Jackie McLean's best work. Very introspective album with great musicians.

What would you play if you had no fear? What would you listen to if you didn't have to explain it to the others, to your family, to your boss? It would sound like jazz. Let freedom ring. Let play it and listen to "Omega" in particular. Give you an opportunity.

Just buy it, you cannot go wrong wit this album.

Just love this album

Great CD! Thanks!!!

This 1962 recording shows McLean further on the road he had taken a few years earlier when his style more and more became a matter of short unconnected staccato phrases of no obvious melodic appeal. Here they are mixed with modish screams as if he had to prove himself a member of the avant-garde. The effect to me is boring. The rhytm section, on the other hand, is excellent, particularly Billy Higgins. I think once Mclean tried to change the bop style he grew up with he no longer know what to do with his music, lost his direction in fact.

For me this has greater historic value than perhaps an album to enjoy now. This is not to decry that it is a fine album with some excellent musicianship on it. I much prefer the album to follow "Destination Out". However this is an important document because of the concepts upon which the music is based. It represents the transition of Jackie McLean as a bebop altoist to a jazz musician with his "own voice". Having worked with Mingus, and listened to the work of Ornette Coleman, JM wanted to take on some of the ideas that they had helped develop: new ways of improvising using modal scales for example.There are just four tracks, and the stand out track for me is the first, "Melody For Melonae" (his daughter).This is a quartet album and JM is supported by Walter Davis Jnr, Herbie Lewis and Billy Higgins.

One of Jackie's best LP's. I've owned this on Japanese CD for some years then made a purchase of the vinyl copy.Anyone want to buy my CD copy?

koo-el

Die Vorgängerplatte von Vertigo: LET FREEDOM RING. Der Titel könnte Programm sein: was damals als Freiheit möglich war. Jedenfalls beginnt die CD mit "Melody For Melonae" ungewöhnlich für 1962: kühle Unisono-Linien und gestrichener Bass. Im darauffolgenden Teil swingt es ungemein (Billy Higgins!), die Akkordvorlage ist jedoch modal - McLean nutzt dies zu weitscheifenden, unwiderstehlichen Ausflügen auf dem Altsax, Barry Harris am Piano setzt zeitweise die Begleitung aus."I'll Keep loving You" von Bud Powell ist eine selten gespielte Ballade."Rene", wieder ein Original von McLean, entpuppt sich als Blues. "Omega" lebt von harmonischen Stillstand und Bewegung, was sich am spannendsten im Solo des Leaders spiegelt.Eine erstaunliche Einspielung, die die Pfade des Hardbops weit hinter sich läßt.