Jacknife

Description

Shelved for a decade, then issued as a double LP in 1975, Jacknife restores two sessions recorded by Jackie McLean at Van Gelder Studio, one in 1965, the other in 1966. The earlier set (tracks 1-5) hears McLean in volatile form, flanked by Charles Tolliver, Lee Morgan, and a young Jack DeJohnette. The follow-ups (6-10), unreleased on their own to this day, pare the sounds back to a quartet, with pianist Larry Willis the claviered constant. Rooted in post-bop but leaning modal, Jacknife is sharp, searching, and on occasions as raw as a rusted cleaver. Originally planned as separate Blue Note titles, both volumes were mothballed before surfacing together as one.