“I think I have my own style now, my own sound and my own approach. Everybody's always pointing at some alto player and saying, ”Theres the new Bird." I Don't want that. There was only one Bird, of course, and he was the greatest, but I want to be myself. Maybe someday, when I'm sitll playing my way, I'll be heard." - Jackie McLean (New Soil Liner Notes)

Jackie McLean has always blazed his own trail, where others remain in tradition others like Jackie try to go off on their own. This album is the start of that journey to the Jackie McLean we would know of. Despite being rooted in the hard-bop and bebop traditions this album has a lot of other goodies around too, particularly the writing and penmanship of the oft underrated pianist Walter Davis Jr. 

Davis' writing shines here on his piece “Sweet Cakes” a rhumba/semiboogie number with a hard bop center. The melody is sweet, playing over its 2-5-1s sound sweet. Its a sweet vehicle for some swinging music without being saccharine.

This one kicked my ass trying to transcribe the melody so I hope it's right and readable I really just couldn't listen to the first 5 seconds on repeat anymore. When you follow along to the music you'll see what I mean.

Let me know what you think!

Jake 

Donald Byrd, trumpet; Jackie McLean, alto sax; Walter Davis Jr., piano; Paul Chambers, bass; Pete La Roca, drums; recorded Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, NJ, May 2, 1959, released July 1959.