Cut from the analogue masters by renowned mastering engineer Kevin Gray

200-gram pressing by Quality Record Pressings has a flat edge profile and deep groove label, true to the original LP

Deluxe high-gloss tip-on album jacket

This LP for Prestige helped establish alto sax giant McLean on the jazz scene. He was joined by trumpeter Donald Byrd (who shines with the altoist on Charlie Parker’s “Confirmation”) and tenor saxophonist Hank Mobley (also bopping hard on the tune), in a date solidified by McLean’s rhythm section: Mal Waldron on piano, Doug Watkins on bass and Arthur Taylor on drums. McLean also plays ballads, including Waldron’s sublime tune “Abstraction.” Writing in the original notes, Ira Gitler said, ”Jackie McLean is musically coming of age. His playing, out of Charlie Parker and Sonny Rollins, has become a personalized, more individual voice in 1956 and he has not lost any of the basic emotion, swinging qualities that help his style live up to the second syllable of his last name so well.”

Originally released in 1956

Jackie McLean, alto sax
Mal Waldron, piano
Doug Watkins, bass
Art Taylor, drums
Donald Byrd, trumpet
Hank Mobley, tenor saxophone

Track Listing
1. Sentimental Journey
2. Why Was I Born?
3. When I Fall In Love
4. Contour
5. Abstraction
6. Confirmation