Jackie McLean - One Step Beyond (US Blue Note Vinyl LP Stereo)

Vinyl: EX
Sleeve: VG+

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Jackie McLean - One Step Beyond Vinyl LP - US Blue Note Reissue

A pivotal recording in Jackie McLean's artistic evolution, One Step Beyond captures the alto saxophonist at a crucial juncture, pushing beyond hard bop conventions toward the freer, more adventurous territory that would define his 1960s Blue Note work. Recorded on 30 April 1963 at Van Gelder Studio with an exceptional quintet and released in this 1973 US stereo pressing, the album features some of the most forward-thinking musicians of the era: the then-17-year-old drumming prodigy Tony Williams, vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson in one of his earliest recorded appearances, trombonist Grachan Moncur III, and bassist Eddie Khan.

The album's four McLean compositions demonstrate his willingness to venture into more abstract harmonic and rhythmic territory while maintaining emotional directness and blues feeling. "Saturday And Sunday" opens with a deceptively straightforward melody before the solos explore more angular, chromatic terrain. McLean's alto saxophone sound, with its distinctive edge and cry, navigates these harmonically complex passages with passionate intensity.

"Frankenstein" is aptly titled, a somewhat monstrous composition that lurches between different moods and tempos, showcasing the group's ability to negotiate challenging structural shifts. Hutcherson's vibraphone adds shimmering colours throughout, his approach modern and harmonically sophisticated. His presence on this session was significant; he would become one of Blue Note's most important artists in the 1960s, and this early appearance shows why.

Tony Williams, despite his youth, already demonstrates the revolutionary approach that would make him one of jazz's most influential drummers. His playing here is restless, interactive, and constantly pushing the music forward with polyrhythmic complexity and dynamic variation. Just weeks after this session, he would join Miles Davis' second great quintet, where his innovations would help define 1960s jazz.

Grachan Moncur III's trombone provides a perfect frontline partner for McLean, his sound darker and more vocalized than the typical hard bop trombonist. The contrast between McLean's alto and Moncur's trombone creates textural interest throughout. "Blue Rondo" and "Ghost Town" round out the programme, each composition pushing the band toward the edge of what was still recognisable as hard bop.

This 1973 US pressing features Van Gelder's stamp in the run-out grooves, confirming his mastering, and the blue and black Liberty-era label with "Blue Note Records Inc". While not a first pressing, it maintains the sonic quality Blue Note and Van Gelder were famous for, capturing both the intimacy of the quintet format and the intensity of these forward-looking performances.