Destination Out [Content/Copy-Protected CD]

Jackie McLean was one of the finest talent scouts in jazz history. Tony Williams, Charles Tolliver and Jack DeJoohnette were some of the musicians that made their name in McLeans groups. This record features two other incredible musicians he discovered:Vibist Bobby Hutcherson and (most importantly) trombonist and composer Grachan MoncurIII. Grachan wrote dark, almost mysterious sounding "modal" compositions that used very few chords and still sound unique today. Bobbys spare, spacey vibe sound also added a totally unique flavour. McLean had broken free of conventional hard-bop with the awesome "Let freedom ring". He then formed a group consisting of Williams, Moncur and Hutcherson (all almost totally unknown at that point),. The first record all three made together was "One Step Beyond" (out of print). That record consisted of music that was definitely steeped in the Bop tradition but also took it's cues from avantgarde jazz with Williams constantly changing drum patterns, McLean blowing wild, intense solos and Hutcherson giving the music a totally different sound with dissonant, percussive vibes. The fact that the group used vibes instead of piano was very important for the overall sound. They made an even greater record under Moncurs leadership, "Evolution" (also OOP, WHY???) which added Lee Morgan in a surprisingly explorative mood. If one wants to know where Dolphy got his inspiration for "Out to Lunch!", look no further than these records...

This record doesn't feature Williams, instead it's veteran Roy Haynes who drums which gives the record a somewhat more conventional feel. It doesn't matter much though, the group plays three awesome Moncur compositions and McLeans playing is more relaxed and secure in this environment than on the earlier records where his high-pitched screams sometimes becomes grating. Overall, this is a must-have!!!

PS Blue Note HAS to reissue "Evolution" and "One Step Beyond"!!! Records as good as these don't deserve to be out of print. Oh yeah, re-issue "It's Time" also...

One of my personal favorite jazz albums.
Love and Hate set the record off with a slow tempo meditation on its subject- setting the tone of the song is Hutcherson's vibes curdling out a slow painful vamp. Giving space to the song is Roy Haynes. Sparse drumming adding to the meditative feel of the song for the horns to solo on top of. McLean really seems to shine on this song weaving his solo so finely, that although played with great restraint comes through an intense passion.
The song is followed by Esoteric; by itself an incredible composition with all it's intricacies, I could imagine a difficult song for a band to play much in the same way a Thelonious Monk song would be. Similar as well to Hat and Beard by Eric Dolphy off of the Out to Lunch album which was release a year later (and who's inspiration of that song came from Monk)- Out to Lunch came of the same label (blue note) but was a more celebrated album I suppose for its more recognized line up of names- although Bobby Hutcherson was present for both. Esoteric is a great example of a superb composition both rhythmically and melodically that demands much of its players but when things fall into place those things really take off.
The third song on the set is in a much more traditional hard bop tone that was popular at the time. The lone Jackie McLean composition, Kahlil the Prophet; keeping in a 4/4 beat, the song seems mostly a platform for fantastic soloing.
Finally there's Riff Raff. The least ambitious of the three Moncur songs, not to say it doesn't go somewhere terrific. Very easy going in it's blues groove, it works as a good counterpoint to the "deeper" Esoteric and Love and Hate. Once again some great solos, Hutcherson's especially takes the whole groove and puts it on its head.
The album works with one side of avant garde jazz and the second side more traditional and solo based jazz. The playing is immaculate and inspired something that can be expected from just about any album you get from the Blue Note or Impulse labels of this time period. But this things gotta bug to it.

One of my personal favorite jazz albums.

Love and Hate set the record off with a slow tempo meditation on its subject- setting the tone of the song is Hutcherson's vibes curdling out a slow painful vamp. Giving space to the song is Roy Haynes. Sparse drumming adding to the meditative feel of the song for the horns to solo on top of. McLean really seems to shine on this song weaving his solo so finely, that although played with great restraint comes through an intense passion.

The song is followed by Esoteric; by itself an incredible composition with all it's intricacies, I could imagine a difficult song for a band to play much in the same way a Thelonious Monk song would be. Similar as well to Hat and Beard by Eric Dolphy off of the Out to Lunch album which was release a year later (and who's inspiration of that song came from Monk)- Out to Lunch came of the same label (blue note) but was a more celebrated album I suppose for its more recognized line up of names- although Bobby Hutcherson was present for both. Esoteric is a great example of a superb composition both rhythmically and melodically that demands much of its players but when things fall into place those things really take off.

The third song on the set is in a much more traditional hard bop tone that was popular at the time. The lone Jackie McLean composition, Kahlil the Prophet; keeping in a 4/4 beat, the song seems mostly a platform for fantastic soloing.

Finally there's Riff Raff. The least ambitious of the three Moncur songs, not to say it doesn't go somewhere terrific. Very easy going in it's blues groove, it works as a good counterpoint to the "deeper" Esoteric and Love and Hate. Once again some great solos, Hutcherson's especially takes the whole groove and puts it on its head.

The album works with one side of avant garde jazz and the second side more traditional and solo based jazz. The playing is immaculate and inspired something that can be expected from just about any album you get from the Blue Note or Impulse labels of this time period. But this things gotta bug to it.