Lights Out!

Last updated
Lights Out!
LightsOut.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedJune 1956 [1]
RecordedJanuary 27, 1956
Studio Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, New Jersey
Genre Jazz
Length45:58
Label Prestige
PRLP 7035
Producer Bob Weinstock
Jackie McLean chronology
Presenting... Jackie McLean
(1955)
Lights Out!
(1956)
4, 5 and 6
(1956)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
DownBeat Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [3]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [4]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [5]

Lights Out! is a studio album by saxophonist Jackie McLean, his debut on Prestige Records. It was recorded in 1956 and released the same year as PRLP 7035. The album was reissued on CD in 1990 (as Original Jazz Classics OJCCD-426-2/Prestige P-7035). [6] It was re-issued on 180 gram vinyl by Analogue Productions in 2012. [7] It features McLean in a quintet with trumpeter Donald Byrd, pianist Elmo Hope, bassist Doug Watkins and drummer Art Taylor.

Contents

Reception

Reviewing the 2012 vinyl re-issue, Joseph Neff said of the title track:

But if not a masterwork, it does have plenty to recommend, opening with the title cut, an extended slow blues that gives the horns and Hope's piano ample space for soloing, and while casual in intent the ambience is also quite far from uninspired. The first thing heard is Watkins, his fingers providing a big loping bedrock that never falters throughout the song’s thirteen minutes. Taylor rides with him and accents with skill, never becoming too busy. And all three solo flights are quite successful in working up the sophisticated soul-grease that was just starting to define the hard-bop form at the time this recording was made. I especially enjoy how towards the end McLean's and Byrd's horns tangle around in loose dialogue, offering summation after Hope finishes his superb solo. [7]

Track listing

  1. "Lights Out" (Jackie McLean) – 13:00
  2. "Up" (McLean) – 4:47
  3. "Lorraine" (Donald Byrd) – 6:26
  4. "A Foggy Day" (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin) – 6:24
  5. "Kerplunk" (Byrd) – 8:51
  6. "Inding" (McLean) – 6:30

Personnel

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Art Taylor</span> American drummer

Arthur S. Taylor Jr. was an American jazz drummer, who "helped define the sound of modern jazz drumming".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doug Watkins</span> American jazz double bassist

Douglas Watkins was an American jazz double bassist. He was best known for being an accompanist to various hard bop artists in the Detroit area, including Donald Byrd and Jackie McLean.

<i>Vertigo</i> (Jackie McLean album) 1980 studio album by Jackie McLean

Vertigo is an album by American saxophonist Jackie McLean recorded in 1962 and 1963 but not released on the Blue Note label until 1980. The initial release contained only the five tracks from 1963, while the later 2000 limited CD edition, released as part of the "Connoisseur Series", added six tracks from a 1962 session originally marked for release as Jackie McLean Quintet, first issued in 1978 as part of a double LP entitled Hipnosis.

<i>Quintet/Sextet</i> 1956 studio album by Miles Davis and Milt Jackson

Miles Davis and Milt Jackson Quintet/Sextet, also known as Quintet/Sextet is a studio album by trumpeter Miles Davis and vibraphonist Milt Jackson released by Prestige Records in August of 1956. It was recorded on August 5, 1955. Credited to "Miles Davis and Milt Jackson", this was an "all-star" session, and did not feature any of the members of Davis's working group of that time. Alto saxophonist Jackie McLean appears on his own compositions “Dr. Jackle” and “Minor Apprehension”.

<i>Originally</i> 1982 studio album by Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers

Originally is an album by drummer Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers recorded in 1956, but not released on the Columbia label until 1982. The album features unreleased tracks from the sessions that produced The Jazz Messengers and Hard Bop which have since been released as bonus tracks on those albums and Drum Suite.

<i>Mobleys Message</i> 1957 studio album by Hank Mobley

Mobley's Message is an album by jazz saxophonist Hank Mobley, released on the Prestige label in 1957. It was recorded on July 20, 1956 and features performances by Mobley, Donald Byrd, Barry Harris, Doug Watkins and Art Taylor, with Jackie McLean guesting on one track.

<i>Ritual: The Modern Jazz Messengers</i> 1960 studio album by Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers

Ritual is a studio album by The Jazz Messengers featuring Art Blakey. Three years after being recorded, it was first released on the Pacific Jazz Records label as PJM-402, and reissued by them in 1962, with an Elmo Hope session, as Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers/The Elmo Hope Quintet* Featuring Harold Land as PJ-33. It has been reissued on CD.

<i>Silvers Blue</i> 1957 studio album by Horace Silver

Silver's Blue is a studio album by American jazz pianist Horace Silver recorded for the Epic label in 1956 featuring performances by Silver with Joe Gordon, Hank Mobley, Doug Watkins, and Kenny Clarke and another session with Donald Byrd and Art Taylor replacing Gordon and Clarke. Silver, Mobley, Watkins, and Byrd all had recently left The Jazz Messengers. These were Silver's first sessions as a leader after leaving the Messengers.

<i>All Day Long</i> (album) 1957 studio album by Kenny Burrell

All Day Long is a jazz album by the Prestige All Stars, later credited to trumpeter Donald Byrd and guitarist Kenny Burrell, released in 1957 on the Prestige label. This was one of the first albums in which Burrell was presented as a leader. It's characterized by up tempo pieces, all of which were composed by the members of the band.

<i>Fuego</i> (Donald Byrd album) Album by American trumpeter Donald Byrd

Fuego is an album by American trumpeter Donald Byrd recorded in 1959 and released on the Blue Note label in 1960 as BLP 4026, featuring Byrd with Jackie McLean, Duke Pearson, Doug Watkins and Lex Humphries.

<i>Bluesnik</i> 1962 studio album by Jackie McLean

Bluesnik is an album by American saxophonist Jackie McLean recorded in 1961 and released on the Blue Note label. It features McLean in a quintet with trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, pianist Kenny Drew, bassist Doug Watkins and drummer Pete La Roca.

<i>Jackies Bag</i> 1961 studio album by Jackie McLean

Jackie's Bag is an album by American saxophonist Jackie McLean recorded in 1959 and 1960 and released by Blue Note. It features three tracks with McLean in a quintet featuring trumpeter Donald Byrd, pianist Sonny Clark, bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Philly Joe Jones, and six tracks with a sextet featuring tenor saxophonist Tina Brooks, trumpeter Blue Mitchell, pianist Kenny Drew, bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Art Taylor.

<i>4, 5 and 6</i> 1956 studio album by Jackie McLean

4, 5 and 6 is a studio album by saxophonist Jackie McLean recorded for Prestige Records. It was recorded in 1956 and originally released that year as PRLP 7048. In 1962, the album was reissued under the same title on the Prestige sub-label New Jazz Records as NJ 8279 with a different cover. The album was reissued on CD in 1991. It features McLean in a quartet with pianist Mal Waldron, bassist Doug Watkins and drummer Art Taylor. Trumpeter Donald Byrd guests on three tracks, and tenor saxophonist Hank Mobley on one.

<i>McLeans Scene</i> 1959 studio album by Jackie McLean

McLean's Scene is a studio album by saxophonist Jackie McLean. It was recorded in 1956 and 1957, but not released until 1959 on Prestige's subsidiary label New Jazz Records, as NJ 8212. It was reissued on CD in 1991. Three tracks features McLean in a quintet with trumpeter Bill Hardman, pianist William “Red” Garland, bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Art Taylor, and the remainder a quartet with pianist Mal Waldron, bassist Art Phipps and Art Taylor.

<i>Jackie McLean & Co.</i> 1957 studio album by Jackie McLean

Jackie McLean & Co. is a studio album by saxophonist Jackie McLean. It was recorded and released in 1957 on Prestige. It was also reissued on New Jazz Records as NJ 8323. It features McLean in a quintet with trumpeter Bill Hardman, pianist Mal Waldron, bassist Doug Watkins and drummer Art Taylor. Tuba player Ray Draper appears on three tracks.

<i>2 Guitars</i> 1957 studio album by Kenny Burrell and Jimmy Raney

2 Guitars is an album by guitarists Kenny Burrell and Jimmy Raney recorded in 1957 and released on the Prestige label.

<i>2 Trumpets</i> 1957 studio album by Art Farmer and Donald Byrd

2 Trumpets is an album by trumpeters Art Farmer and Donald Byrd, recorded in 1956 and released on the Prestige label. They are joined by Jackie McLean in the front line for the uptempo pieces but have a ballad quartet track apiece.

<i>Jammin with Gene</i> 1956 studio album by Gene Ammons

Jammin' with Gene is an album by saxophonist Gene Ammons recorded in 1956 and released on the Prestige label.

<i>Alto Madness</i> 1957 studio album by Jackie McLean and John Jenkins

Alto Madness is an album by alto saxophonists Jackie McLean and John Jenkins recorded in 1957 and released on the Prestige label. The rhythm section is pianist Wade Legge, bassist Doug Watkins and drummer Art Taylor.

<i>Presenting... Jackie McLean</i> 1956 studio album by Jackie McLean

Presenting... Jackie McLean, also referred to as The New Tradition and Jackie McLean Quintet, is the debut album by American alto saxophonist Jackie McLean, which was recorded in 1955, becoming the first LP released by the Ad Lib label before being reissued on the Jubilee label in 1958. It features McLean in a quintet with trumpeter Donald Byrd, pianist Mal Waldron, bassist Doug Watkins and drummer Ron Tucker.

References

  1. "Reviews and Ratings of Popular Albums". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 23 June 1956. p. 38. Retrieved 17 January 2023 via Google Books.
  2. DownBeat:July 5, 1962 Vol. 29, No.14
  3. Allmusic Review
  4. Swenson, J., ed. (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. p. 136. ISBN   0-394-72643-X.
  5. Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 978. ISBN   978-0-141-03401-0.
  6. "The Jackie McLean Quintet* With Donald Byrd And Elmo Hope – Lights Out!". Discogs. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  7. 1 2 "Graded on a Curve: Jackie McLean, Lights Out! – The Vinyl District". 7 November 2012. Retrieved 22 July 2018.