Grab yourself a sandwich and watch this documentary, Jackie McLean on Mars (1983), during your lunchbreak today. (Try using Google Chrome or Safari to access the link I've provided if you're receiving this by email. Firefox seems to have trouble with access.) The award-winning film was directed by Ken Levis. Many thanks to Susheel Kurien, director of Finding Carlton, for alerting me.
Thanks, Marc. Great find. Jackie McLean is also one of those unsung alto heros. He was a very open-minded player, a true stylist. Some guys at YouTube call his alto "out of tune". -- Man, that's how you sound when you're trying to find the notes, well, *between* the "regular" notes.
As for the sandwich: I hope that a coffee would be okay too? I can't eat while I'm listening to music. It's not like you New Yorkers when you're visiting the Metropolitan Opera House with a ... snack.
Would be a nice title for a new tune: "Chewing At The Met" ... When we have "Bean At The Met", someone has to chew it, right?
Posted by: Bruno Leicht | October 28, 2011 at 07:56 AM
To get the McLean video to work in Firefox:
Go to the icon that you use to allow various sites java useage.
Temporarily allow "vimeo.com".
Posted by: Barry Block | October 28, 2011 at 09:21 AM
Marc,
Great find! I had seen this years ago, but it was a pleasure to watch again. McLean is one of the few musicians I've heard who, when they express their anger and concerns about 'the man', is articulate enough to actually communicate more than sheer frustration about things. The footage of him in the classroom toward the end "..because he's not a hamburger....." (ha ha ha) was excellent. Another lost Master....
keith
Posted by: keith hedger | October 28, 2011 at 10:32 AM
Terrific - this made my day.
Thanks!
Posted by: Rab Hines | October 29, 2011 at 04:46 PM
Thank you for posting the film! It enriched my life. Can you list the tracks and/or the albums they are from?
Posted by: McBindle | October 30, 2011 at 11:03 PM
Jackie McClean was spontaneous, aggressive, responsive and friendly to strangers in addition to his other traits. McClean was certainly one of the most exciting and surprising performers of his craft.
His work to inspire students, and to teach non-believers of the
intellectual integrity of jazz and the roots that it came from is without parallel. He was a true crusader for all jazz musicians and fans, and for students and neophytes alike.
Posted by: Tom Elliott | October 31, 2011 at 05:21 PM
Once again Marc, thanks for sharing this
Posted by: Greg Judd | October 31, 2011 at 07:19 PM
Superb find, thanks. Jackie is an inspiration since . . . 1988!
Posted by: Albert | August 25, 2012 at 01:36 PM