These 1956-1957 recordings by alto giant Jackie McLean find one of Charlie Parker’s heirs apparent moving out from under Bird’s shadow to find his own personal means of expression. McLean’s acidic tone and blunt rhythmic attack are heard in a quartet setting on a blues and four standards, where he is accompanied by pianist Mal Waldron (an associate from his tenure with Charles Mingus); there are also samples of collaborations with two of his favorite trumpeters, Donald Byrd and Bill Hardman, as well as an alto battle with John Jenkins that reveals how quickly McLean himself had become an influence on the instrument.

with Donald Byrd, Paul Chambers, Gil Coggins, Curtis Fuller, Bill Hardman, Louis Hayes, Elmo Hope, John Jenkins, Wade Legge, Hank Mobley, Arthur Phipps, Arthur Taylor, Mal Waldron, Doug Watkins, Webster Young