Jackie McLean – Lights Out! (LP, Analogue Productions)

Hard bop saxophonist Jackie McLean performs for “Lights Out!” from 1957 appeared as a bandleader for the second time. McLean’s style clearly shows the influence of Charlie Parker, who had died just a year earlier. At the same time, he sometimes ventures out of the artistic security of imitation and experiments with tonal variations. McLean has a solid blues foundation in everything he plays, developing improvisations with trumpeter Donald Byrd. Elmo Hope on piano, Doug Watkins on bass and Art Taylor on drums complete the quintet.