Ultimate audiophile Prestige reissues from Analogue Productions. Some of the most collectible, rarest and best sounding Rudy Van Gelder recordings ever made. All cut from the Analog Original Master Tapes by Kevin Gray. Pressed on 180 gram vinyl at state-of-the-art plant Quality Record Pressings and plated by Gary Salstrom. Tip-on covers on thick cardboard stock.

• Limited Edition
• Analogue Productions Prestige Mono Series
• 180 Grams Audiophile Vinyl
• Mastered by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio
• Cut from Original Analog Mono Master Tapes
• Plated by Gary Salstrom
• Pressed at Quality Record Pressings (QRP USA)
• Deluxe high-gloss tip-on album cover

Jackie McLean's aptly titled 1956 release 4, 5, and 6 features recordings from the innovative alto saxophonist in three different settings including tracks with a quartet, an expanded quintet and even a sextet. Supporting players such as Hank Mobley (tenor sax), Donald Byrd (trumpet), Mal Waldron (piano), Doug Watkins (bass) and Art Taylor (drums) join in on the proceedings in disparate incarnations, all with winning results. The dynamic 6-song set is highlighted by Waldron's own stirring ballad "Abstraction" and the sextet's sprawling version of Charlie Parker’s “Confirmation."

”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.” - Ira Gitler/Original Liner Notes

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.”

Musicians:

Jackie McLean, alto sax
Mal Waldron, piano
Doug Watkins, bass
Art Taylor, drums
Donald Byrd, trumpet (3,4,6)
Hank Mobley, tenor sax (4)

Track Listing:

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

Click here to listen to samples on YouTube.com ♫