Street Singer Jackie McLean

This is a liner note taken from Jackie McLean Street Singer Blue Note GXF 3067 King Record released in 1980.

RARE, Unissued Tracks of Jackie McLean by Hideki Sato (Jazz Critic)

Some of the unissued tracks of Jackie are already released by King Record, like Jackie McLean Quintet - Recorded in 1967 and Tippin' The Scales - Recorded in 1962.
This album is the 3rd unissued master series of Jackie, and as the title goes, it is interesting to know that the sessions were recorded with another mostly unknown tenor saxophonist, Tina Brooks.

Looking at the members in the band, you may have noticed that these are the same members with a popular album, Jackie's Bag.
Jackie McLean (Alto Sax), Tina Brooks (Tenor Sax), Blue Mitchell (Trumpet), Kenny Drew (Piano), Paul Chambers (Bass), Art Taylor (Drums).
All sessions were recorded on 1st of September 1961.

OK, just to clarify the Jackie's sessions on Blue Note, I just want to dig in a brief history. The 1st recording Jackie did and released on Blue Note was - New Soil - in 1959, BLP 4013 but the 1st sessions he ever recorded on Blue Note were the 3 songs on side 1 of Jackie's Bag recorded on 18th of January, 1959. It is funny that the 1st Jackie's album on Blue Note was - New Soil - which was recorded 4 months after these 3 tracks of Jackie's Bag were recorded. I assume that the Blue Note thought those 3 songs were not enough to make a full album and decided to release the New Soil instead. Thereafter, they used the 3 tracks from January 18th, 1959 sessions and added another 3 tracks from September 1st, 1961 sessions to make - Jackie's Bag - as a full album.

This kind of arrangement was common among the Jazz labels at that time but if you want to know Jackie's transition in music, this chronicle is really crucial.

Now, among the sessions included in this album, Appointment In Ghana, Isle Of Java, and A Ballad For Doll are in Jackie's Bag. So, Melonae's Dance, Medina and Street Singer are newly added, unissued tracks.

In addition, the tracks of Tina Brooks - Back To The Tracks BLP 4052 (his 1st leader album) were recorded on 1st of September, 1961. After all, the sessions on 1st of September 1961 bore 2 full albums - Street Singer and Back To The Tracks.

I never thought of this chronicle of Jackie's recordings on Blue Note actually, haha. In anyway, these September 1st 1961 sessions are no doubt amazing, right? by Takashi

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