The Jazz Project - Album 89: Jackie McLean - "Let Freedom Ring"

           To further my understanding of Jazz, I'm listening through Jazzwise Magazine's "The 100 Jazz Albums That Shook The World". Each album is presented with my stream-of-consciousness thoughts for each track, my general thoughts of the album as a whole, and any relevant information I can capture about the album. Also included is my drink of choice while taking the album in. Thank you for joining me on my journey to [partial] Jazz enlightenment.

Album 89
Jackie McLean - Let Freedom Ring
Drinking: Yorkshire Gold Tea

Photo credit: https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41SMBDMB70L.jpg

1. "Melody For Melonae": The track begins with an ominous piano intro, with excellent descending melodies with the piano and saxophone. McLean's tone is clear and cutting, and creates an excellent listening experience. I'm seeing rainy days and the feeling of not wanting to go to work. It also stirs feelings of being aware of the daily grind. This combo is incredible! The fill in the spaces around each other very well. This track has a certain heart to it that feels very pleasing to listen to. As the song progresses I get more of a feeling of the wonder and imagination of a child, at every turn, there is something new and exciting. The high register screams are like a crazy tea kettle of boiling jazz that can really wail. We go back to a little bit more of  that walking-to-work-in-the-rain vibe as the piano goes into its solo. The bass is walking underneath this section while maintaining this balance of being present without overtaking the stage. What a hard balance it must be to hit. I'm not in love with the later parts of the piano solo, though those big open chords it switches to in the last few minutes are beautiful. I wish there were more of those throughout the track. The licks at the end are just as sharp as the beginning of the song. Truly, an excellent piece of music. 
   
   
2. "I'll Keep Loving You": This song is a cover of Bud Powell's work. It opens with a classic piano sound, timeless. Additionally, the bass tone is amazing. This music is like seeing your wife in a beautiful dress and falling in love all over again. I love the stirred snare sound in this song. this track holds the balance between technical skill and delicate melodies so well. I'm not sure I would have chosen to put those wailing saxophone squeals in, as it felt quite jarring, but something must have inspired him to perform them. At the start of the last two minutes, there seems to be this tension building. Perhaps another lover has appeared? During the last minute, the tension passes as Jackie starts performing some licks to close out the track. 
   
   
3. " Rene": Once the band gets going, this track has some sizzle to it which I thoroughly enjoyed. Part of this enjoyment comes from the use of space created by the non-rhythm based portions of the band. Nothing is jumping out in my imagination for this song, but it's certainly great music. I'd put this on while cooking for sure. 
   
   
4. "Omega": This song starts with some tasty interplay riffs from the band that works as a foundation for some even tastier soloing from McLean. It's excellent stuff. This might be my favorite track on the album. It's almost like Progressive Rock/Meal in nature. It keeps bouncing from this cool mellow part to these great standard jazz phrases. It's a non-traditional song structure and I'm loving it. To me, this sounds like a sound-wave, and as it descends into the valley we get a cool melodic experiment, and as it rises to the peak we get this high voltage combo riffing together. It keeps rising and falling between these two points and it is truly captivating. This could go on forever and I would listen to it gladly. 
   

Overall Thoughts: This album feels like the perfect combination of a lot of different styles, especially the popular ones in play during this era. The way the band plays and explores each avenue feels very authentic, and very skillfully. Truthfully, it left me feeling quite speechless. 

Info: This album was released in May of 1963 via Blue Note records. It was produced by Alfred Lion at Van Gelder Studios in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. It features Jackie McLean on alto saxophone, Walter Davis, Jr. on piano, Herbie Lewis on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums. Fun fact, allegedly "Rene" is named after his son, and "Melody for Melonae" is named after his daughter. 

You can listen to the album here, and you can purchase the album here.