Jackie McLean, Jazz Saxophonist and Mentor, Dies at 74
from the NY Times
Jackie McLean, an acclaimed saxophonist who took a midcareer detour to become a prominent jazz educator, died on Friday at his home in Hartford. He was 74. His death was confirmed by a spokesman for the University of Hartford, where Mr. McLean had taught since 1970. No cause was given.
Mr. McLean was one of many gifted young musicians who burst onto the New York scene after World War II in the wake of the musical revolution known as bebop. He worked with Bud Powell and Miles Davis before he was out of his teens, and later he gained valuable seasoning in the bands of Art Blakey and [/tag]Charles Mingus[/tag] before he began leading his own groups.
Also a prolific composer, Mr. McLean was one of the first alto saxophonists to absorb the pervasive influence of Charlie Parker and shape it into a distinctive personal style. While the influence was clear, especially in his approach to harmony, Mr. McLean’s astringent tone and impassioned phrasing marked him as more than just another Parker disciple.
His career had a second act as well. In the late 1960’s he put performing aside to concentrate on teaching.
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