Jackie McLean A Long Drink of The Blues

A Long Drink of the Blues Review

 

by Scott Yanow

This LP begins with what is titled "Take 1" of "A Long Drink of the Blues." After a false start, the musicians argue for two minutes about the tempo. "Take 2" is a much more successful 20-minute jam featuring Jackie McLean (doubling on alto and tenor), trombonist Curtis Fuller, trumpeter Webster Young, pianist Gil Coggins, bassist Paul Chambers, and drummer Louis Hayes. The second half of the LP is from a quartet session that showcases McLean on three standard ballads with pianist Mal Waldron, bassist Arthur Phipps, and drummer Art Taylor. Although not quite as intense as McLean's later Blue Note dates, the ballad renditions show just how mature and original a soloist he was even at this early stage. Despite "Take 1," this LP is worth the price.  

   Jackie McLean       A Long Drink of The Blues   

1. "A Long Drink of the Blues" [Take 1] false start - 2:21
2. "A Long Drink of the Blues" (McLean) [Take 2] - 20:49
3. "Embraceable You" (Gershwin, Gershwin) - 7:07
4. "I Cover the Waterfront" (Heyman, Green) - 6:27
5. "These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You)" (Link, Marvell, Strachey) - 8:21

• Jackie McLean - alto and tenor sax (1-2) alto sax (3-5)
• Webster Young - trumpet (1-2)
• Curtis Fuller - trombone (1-2)
• Gil Coggins (1-2), Mal Waldron (3-5) - piano
• Paul Chambers (1-2), Arthur Phipps (3-5) - bass
• Louis Hayes (1-2), Art Taylor (3-5) - drums

A Long Drink of the Blues is a studio album by saxophonist Jackie McLean.^[3] It was recorded in 1957, and released in 1961 on New Jazz Records as NJ 8253. It features two tracks with McLean in a sextet featuring trumpeter Webster Young, trombonist Curtis Fuller, bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Louis Hayes, and three with a quartet featuring pianist Mal Waldron, bassist Art Phipps and drummer Art Taylor.