Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Jackie McLean: Nature Boy

195

Jackie McLean: Nature Boy

By

Sign in to view read count
Jackie McLean: Nature Boy
At 67, Jackie McLean sounds better than ever. Highly recommended, his latest album surrounds that distinctive alto saxophone tone with a seasoned trio, presenting classic songs – the kinds of songs that got us interested in jazz in the first place. "Nature Boy" swings lightly with a loose bebop flavor after McLean first offers the melody straight and with serene melodic shades. The dramatic changes in mood and tempo take the listener on a trip from dreamy ballad land to a place where bop is king and improvisation reigns. Bassist and pianist stretch out throughout the session with spontaneous interludes to complement McLean’s fluid bop-charged lines. The unpredictable manner in which his alto saxophone portrays each chorus differently brings pleasant surprises along the way. There’s none of that harsh, biting, jangling of the nerves that up-tempo bebop and hard bop can sometimes bring. Instead, McLean starts with a roster of pretty songs, surrounds himself with artists who match his mastery, and then portrays the music with a lively bounce that flows seamlessly from start to finish.

Personnel

Jackie McLean
saxophone, alto

Album information

Title: Nature Boy | Year Released: 2000 | Record Label: Naxos Jazz

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Sensual
Rachel Z
Over and Over
Tony Monaco Trio
Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.