Let Freedom Ring
| Let Freedom Ring | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio albumby | ||||
| Released | May 1963[1] | |||
| Recorded | March 19, 1962 | |||
| Studio | Van Gelder Studio,Englewood Cliffs,NJ | |||
| Genre | Hard bop,post-bop,modal jazz | |||
| Length | 38:16 | |||
| Label | Blue Note BST 84106 | |||
| Producer | Alfred Lion | |||
| Jackie McLeanchronology | ||||
| ||||
Let Freedom Ringis an album by AmericanjazzsaxophonistJackie McLean,recorded in 1962 and released on theBlue Notelabel.[2]It features McLean in a quartet with pianistWalter Davis Jr.,bassistHerbie Lewisand drummerBilly Higgins.
McLean wrote three of the four compositions. "Melody for Melonae" is dedicated to his daughter (as was an earlier composition, "Little Melonae" ), and appeared as "Melanie" onMatador,a later recording that he made withKenny Dorham.The slower-tempo performance onLet Freedom Ringwas the first occasion that McLean used "provocative upper-register screams".[3]"Rene" and "Omega" are both blues-related pieces, the former with a standardtwelve-barstructure and harmonies, the latter more abstract andmodal.The one non-McLean track isBud Powell'sballad,"I'll Keep Loving You".
Reception
[edit]TheAllmusicreview by Steve Huey awarded the album 5 stars and stated: "The success ofLet Freedom Ringpaved the way for a bumper crop of other modernist innovators to join the Blue Note roster and, artistically, it still stands withOne Step Beyondas McLean's greatest work. "[4]The Penguin Guide to JazzgivesLet Freedom Ringfour out of four stars, and includes the album in a select "Core Collection".[5]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |  [4] |
| Penguin Guide to Jazz | [5] |
| The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide | [6] |
Track listing
[edit]All compositions by Jackie McLean except where noted
- "Melody for Melonae" - 13:24
- "I'll Keep Loving You" (Bud Powell) - 6:18
- "Rene" - 10:03
- "Omega" - 8:31
Personnel
[edit]References
[edit]- ^BillboardMay 18, 1963
- ^Jackie McLean discography,accessed January 13, 2013.
- ^Bob Blumenthal's liner notes to the 2003 RVG edition.
- ^abHuey, S.Allmusic review,accessed January 13, 2013.
- ^abCook, Richard;Brian Morton(2008) [1992].The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings.The Penguin Guide to Jazz(9th ed.). New York: Penguin. pp. 979–980.ISBN978-0-14-103401-0.
- ^Swenson, J., ed. (1985).The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide.USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. pp.136.ISBN0-394-72643-X.
