I never heard of the album "Vertigo" from Jackie McLean before. Shame on me, Chris 😔. So, after more than 60 years after it was recorded, yesterday evening - or rather, after midnight, I heard the full album for the very first time on YouTube Music. Wonderful album 👍.
I picked up this album this past year. Big fan. Thanks for the review. I dig your categories of alto tones, but because of the negative connotations of “sour” might you consider instead, “sweet” and “savory”?
Glad you're enjoying. Sour is most apt, but fear not. It's not meant as negative. I love hot and sour soup, sweet and sour chicken and Sour Patch Kids candy, don't you? Tonally, it's more vinegary than savory, which I love as well. I appreciate your point and suggestion. Sour is just more descriptive and emblematic v. savory, for me. Glad you're aboard!
Thanks for the response. I know you didn’t mean sour that way, I was just thinking of the general vibe of the word, as in music, like “playing a sour note.” And I like both styles, favoring slightly the edgier style aka sour.
Appreciate you pointing out the McLean/ Byrd connection, I’ve been noticing that too, recently. I fulfilled my goal of picking up recordings of McLean’s Prestige years as leader, now working on gathering the McLean-as-sidemen recordings from the same time period. Great stuff.
I'd give you "vinegary," but that could be too salad-y. I hear ya re "sour." Smart readers in the know like you will be hip. Personally, I'd take a sour alto any day over sweet. I often find those who reside on that side of the spectrum cloying and overly sentimental. Sour is where the guts and attitude hang out, as per Phil Woods, Cannonball, etc.
I never heard of the album "Vertigo" from Jackie McLean before. Shame on me, Chris 😔. So, after more than 60 years after it was recorded, yesterday evening - or rather, after midnight, I heard the full album for the very first time on YouTube Music. Wonderful album 👍.
I picked up this album this past year. Big fan. Thanks for the review. I dig your categories of alto tones, but because of the negative connotations of “sour” might you consider instead, “sweet” and “savory”?
Hi Gary,
Glad you're enjoying. Sour is most apt, but fear not. It's not meant as negative. I love hot and sour soup, sweet and sour chicken and Sour Patch Kids candy, don't you? Tonally, it's more vinegary than savory, which I love as well. I appreciate your point and suggestion. Sour is just more descriptive and emblematic v. savory, for me. Glad you're aboard!
Thanks for the response. I know you didn’t mean sour that way, I was just thinking of the general vibe of the word, as in music, like “playing a sour note.” And I like both styles, favoring slightly the edgier style aka sour.
Appreciate you pointing out the McLean/ Byrd connection, I’ve been noticing that too, recently. I fulfilled my goal of picking up recordings of McLean’s Prestige years as leader, now working on gathering the McLean-as-sidemen recordings from the same time period. Great stuff.
I'd give you "vinegary," but that could be too salad-y. I hear ya re "sour." Smart readers in the know like you will be hip. Personally, I'd take a sour alto any day over sweet. I often find those who reside on that side of the spectrum cloying and overly sentimental. Sour is where the guts and attitude hang out, as per Phil Woods, Cannonball, etc.
Thanks for the background on McLean's album. I believe that "Cheers" is a contrafact of Charlie Chaplin's song "Smile."