Jackie McLean

Jackie McLean - A Fickle Sonance - 1961 - Blue Note

One of Jackie McLean's most swinging early Blue Notes, this is a set of great originals by band members McLean, Tommy Turrentine, Sonny Clark and Butch Warren. Billy Higgins lights the fire for the whole proceedings.

MUSICIANS

Jackie McLean (alto saxophone)
Tommy Turrentine (trumpet)
Sonny Clark (piano)
Butch Warren (bass)
Billy Higgins (drums)

TRACKS

1. Five Will Get You Ten 7:06
2. Subdued 5:54
3. Sundu 4:54
4. A Fickle Sonance 6:49
5. Enitnerrut 5:47
6. Lost 4:48

REVIEWS

Alto saxophonist Jackie McLean was one of the few jazz players to come up through bebop and incorporate free jazz into his style. Even though A Fickle Sonance preceded McLean's intense 1962 album Let Freedom Ring, the playing remained in a swinging blues-oriented style, showing no hint of the direction his music was about to take. The sidemen on the date (Tommy Turrentine [trumpet], Sonny Clark [piano], and Butch Warren [bass]) prove to be an invigorating combination of musicians, however not as involved in the burgeoning free music as drummer Billy Higgins. At the time of these sessions, Higgins had already played with Ornette Coleman, providing a link to the avant-garde, but nevertheless his playing follows the hard bop pace of the others. McLean provides two original compositions, Subdued and the title track, while Clark, Turrentine, and Warren fill the remaining tracks. © Al Campbell, All Music Guide © 2007 All Media Guide
All of Jackie McLean's early-'60s Blue Note sessions are worth one's time, but this album features a particularly sparkling ensemble including the under-recorded trumpeter Tommy Turrentine and the rhythm team of Sonny Clark, Butch Warren and Billy Higgins. Add a set of finely crafted original compositions and you have the perfect jazz album. .McLean's trademark alto wail is in classic form here, and Turrentine proves as virile a partner as Donald Byrd had on many other exemplary dates with the saxophonist. Sonny Clark, who provides the swinging compositions "Five Will Get You Ten" and "Sundu," is, likewise, at the top of his game here. Warren, an excellent bassist in the tradition of the great Oscar Pettiford, provides ample rhythmic variety and penned the rollicking closer "Lost." Higgins, a Blue Note regular by this time, is at his swinging best, supporting the whole group with his shimmering cymbals.Allmusic.com:Alto saxophonist Jackie McLean was one of the few jazz players to come up through bebop and incorporate free jazz into his style. Even though A Fickle Sonance preceded McLean's intense 1962 album Let Freedom Ring, the playing remained in a swinging blues-oriented style, showing no hint of the direction his music was about to take. The sidemen on the date (Tommy Turrentine [trumpet], Sonny Clark [piano], and Butch Warren [bass]) prove to be an invigorating combination of musicians, however not as involved in the burgeoning free music as drummer Billy Higgins. At the time of these sessions, Higgins had already played with Ornette Coleman, providing a link to the avant-garde, but nevertheless his playing follows the hard bop pace of the others. McLean provides two original compositions, "Subdued" and the title track, while Clark, Turrentine, and Warren fill the remaining tracks.