Donald Byrd – Off to the Races (1959)

Blue Note – BLP 4007Rec. Date : December 21, 1958 Trumpet : Donald ByrdAlto Sax : Jackie McLeanBaritone Sax : Pepper AdamsBass : Sam JonesDrums : Art TaylorPiano : Wynton Kelly Strictlyheadies : July 08, 2019Stream this Album Billboard : 03/30/1959Three Stars This is Donald Byrd’s first waxing as a leader and his first for the label since his trip to Europe last

Jackie McLean / John Jenkins – Alto Madness (1958)

Prestige – PRLP 7114Rec. Date : May 3, 1957 Alto Sax : Jackie McLean, John JenkinsBass : Doug WatkinsDrums : Art TaylorPiano : Wade Legge Listening to Prestige : #232Stream this Album Billboard : 02/10/1958Two stars A blowing session of sporting altoists J. Mclean and John Jenkins, both bearing the stamp of Charlie Parker a little too blatantly. Of the two, McLean shows more individuality in

Mal Waldron – Mal/2 (1957)

Prestige – PRLP 7111Rec. Dates : April 19, 1957, May 17, 1957 Piano : Mal WaldronAlto Sax : Jackie McLean, Sahib ShihabBass : Julian EuellDrums : Art Taylor, Ed ThigpenTenor Sax : John ColtraneTrumpet : Bill Hardman, Idrees Sulieman Listening to Prestige : #225 & #237Stream this Album Billboard : 12/16/1957Score of 71 Waldron’s fleet, concise style of piano is highly reminiscent of Bud Powell. While Waldron and

Gene Ammons – Jammin’ In Hi Fi (1957)

Prestige – PRLP 7110Rec. Date : April 12, 1957 Tenor Sax : Gene AmmonsAlto Sax : Jackie McLeanBass : Paul ChambersDrums : Art TaylorGuitar : Kenny BurrellPiano : Mal WaldronTrumpet : Idrees Sulieman Listening to Prestige : #222Stream this Album Billboard : 12/16/1957Score of 75 This is one of the better sets by Ammons for the label. Highlight is an a-tempo expression of Pennies From Heaven by

Charles Mingus – Blues & Roots (1960)

Atlantic – 1305Rec. Date : 02/04/1959 Stream this Album 10 Minute Record Reviews : Episode #269 Bass : Charles MingusAlto Sax : Jackie McLean, John HandyBaritone Sax : Pepper AdamsDrums : Dannie RichmondPiano : Horace Parlan, Mal WaldronTenor Sax : Booker ErvinTrombone : Jimmy Knepper, Willie Dennis Billboard : 03/21/1960Three stars Charlie Mingus gets a

Jackie McLean – Makin’ the Changes (1960)

New Jazz – NJLP 8231Rec. Dates : February 15, 1957, August 30, 1957Stream this Album Alto Sax, Tenor Sax : Jackie McLeanBass : Arthur Phipps, Paul ChambersDrums : Art Taylor, Louis HayesPiano : Mal Waldron, Gil CogginsTrombone : Curtis FullerTrumpet : Webster Young Cashbox : 06/25/1960 McLean’s emergence as a major new alto voice is marked by heaving recording activity, of which this session

The Jazz Messengers – Hard Bop (1957)

Columbia – CL 1040Rec. Dates : December 12, 1956, December 13, 1956 Stream this Album Drums : Art BlakeyAlto Sax : Jackie McLeanBass : Spanky DeBrestPiano : Sam DockeryTrumpet : Bill Hardman Billboard : 10/28/1957Score of 80 A leaping, boppish session that is notable for wealth of stark, emotionally direct solos, and integrated thrust of

Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers – Drum Suite (1957)

Columbia – CL 1002Rec. Dates : December 13, 1956, February 22, 1957 Stream this Album Percussion : Art Blakey, Jo Jones, Charles Wright, Cándido, SabúAlto Sax : Jackie McLeanBass : Spanky DeBrest, Oscar PettifordCello : Oscar PettifordPiano : Sam Dockery, Ray BryantTrumpet : Bill Hardman Billboard : 06/24/1957Album Cover of the Week Excellent color photograph

Charles Mingus – Pithecanthropus Erectus (1956)

Atlantic – 1237Rec. Date : January 30, 1956 Stream this Album Bass : Charlie MingusAlto Sax : Jackie McLeanDrums : Willie JonesPiano : Mal WaldronTenor Sax : J.R. Monterose Billboard : 8/25/1956Score of 77 In his first Atlantic LP, Mingus departs from the strict composter-imposed discipline of his “Composer Workshop” series. There is more of

Prestige LP 7096

Ray Draper Quintet – Tuba Sounds (1957)

Prestige – PRLP 7096Rec. Date : March 15, 1957 Tuba : Ray DraperAlto Sax : Jackie McLeanBass : Spanky DeBrestDrums : Ben DixonPiano : Mal WaldronTrumpet : Webster Young Listening to Prestige : #216Stream this Album San Francisco ExaminerC.H. Garrigues : 09/29/1957 Originally the tuba performed the chores in the jazz band which have been taken over in latter days by the