Fat Jazz/Jackie's Bag /New Soil/Swing, Sawng, Swingin'

Fat Jazz / Jackie's Bag / New Soil / Swing Swang  I love being surprised by a newly discovered voice. It's like suddenly stumbling across new country: so much to explore, a Place To Be as Hiromi once so felicitously titled one of her projects. Jackie McLean affords the listener many pleasures.First, his balance of feeling and sensibility. Jackie is very much the Romantic, probing, adventurous, dynamic. Second, his gift for improvisation is very painterly. The pictures he creates in the listeners mind are fresh and repay repeated focused listening. Thirdly, his sense of drive and swing is flawless-the man can pivot from figure to the next with a lithe athletic grace. Fourth, Jackies improvisations are like the best modern poetry, full of the sound of surprise. Jackie plays with some of the best musician of the early 60s-Donald Byrd, Sonny Clark, Walter Davis, Jr., blue Mitchell, Kenny Drew,Paul Chambers, Jimmy Garrison, Art Taylor among others. All in all, if you're tired of the routine, this collection will be a blessing. Fat Jazz / Jackie's Bag / New Soil / Swing Swang

Love jmac. Good price for all that music, but he record company that compiled all the music doesn't give any track personnel or notes about any of the 5 CDs. Shame.

excelente recopilación!!

Song tracks - mislabelled

All of this Jackie McClean for this low price. Good music, good accompanyment and worth having in any jazz collection

This superb 2-CD set includes 4 albums by the great jazz alto saxophonist Jackie McLean(1932-2006).CD1, tracks 1-5('Fat Jazz') were recorded in New York on December 27, 1957 with McLean(alto sax); Ray Draper(tuba); Webster Young(cornet); Gil Coggins(piano); George Tucker(bass) & Larry Ritchie(drums).CD1, tracks 6-8('Jackie's Bag') were recorded in New Jersey on January 18, 1959 with McLean(alto sax); Donald Byrd(trumpet); Sonny Clark(piano); Paul Chambers(bass) & Philly Joe Jones(drums).CD1, tracks 9-11('Jackie's Bag') were recorded in New Jersey on September 1, 1960 with McLean(alto sax); Tina Brooks(tenor sax); Blue Mitchell(trumpet); Kenny Drew(piano); Paul Chambers(bass) & Art Taylor(drums).CD2, tracks 1-5('New Soil') were recorded in New Jersey on May 2, 1959 with McLean(alto sax); Donald Byrd(trumpet); Walter Davis Jr.(piano); Paul Chambers(bass) & Pete La Roca(drums).CD2, tracks 6-12('Swing, Swang, Swingin'') were recorded in New Jersey on October 2, 1959 with McLean(alto sax); Walter Bishop Jr.(piano); Jimmy Garrison(bass) & Art Taylor(drums).With over 150 minutes of inventive and exhilarating music this bargain reissue is a marvellous introduction to Jackie McLean and gives an excellent snapshot of the state of hard bop during the late 1950s.

Another value for money double CD package from the Avid stable. As usual there is an accompanying booklet with full details of the four albums included: sleeve notes, personnel and recording dates. The four albums are presented sequentially; the first dates from 1957, the others during 1959 (although the second album has two sessions, one from 1959 and the second from 1960 with different personnel).Essentially a post bebop set of albums I much prefer the album "New Soil" (with Donald Byrd, Walter Davis, Paul Chambers and Pete La Roca). The track "Hip Strut" is truly brilliant!All the music is pretty good and there is a variety of group size from quartet through to sextet, and an interesting range of musicians.Don't be put off by the four star grading. Good music at an excellent price.