Jackie McLean ( 1932 - 2006 )

Friday 31st March 2006 Jackie McLean died at the age of 73. He was one of the last living legends of the 1950s and 1960s Blue Note recordings. His discography is very extensive ( Jackie McLean records ) and he played with musicians as Sonny Rollins, Miles Davis, Paul Bley, George Wallington, Charles Mingus and Art Blakey. He had his own group since 1958, mostly a quintet.

He visited Eyrope several times. I saw him at the 2004 North Sea Jazz Festival in The Hague and I remember a small incident I love to share with you.

As the members of the band were not listed in the program ( Jackie McLean Quartet ( Jackie McLean (alto sax) rest of the line up t.b.a. )) I was waiting for the things to come. Microphones were tested, instruments were brought on stage and suddenly I recogniced Jackie McLean from one of the images on my Blue Note covers. But, .... I wondered, that's strange as the Blue Note were released in the 1960s. When the preparations were finished and the group ready to take off the quartet seemed to be a quintet and the young Jackie McLean his son Rene on alto beside his father.The funural will be on Friday, 7 th April 2006: Abyssinian Baptist Church 10:00 in the morning at 132 Odell Place (138th Street) between Adam Clayton Powell Jr. & Malcolm X Boulevards 7th& Lenox Avenues) in New York City.