Jackie McLean: Vertigo (Tone Poet Vinyl) (180 g) (LP)

Two months before Jackie McLean recorded his groundbreaking masterpiece *One Step Beyond*, the alto saxophonist had assembled a dynamic quintet for a recording session at Rudy Van Gelder’s studio. Despite the star-studded lineup featuring trumpeter Donald Byrd, pianist Herbie Hancock, and drummer Tony Williams—who would soon become members of the second great quintet—producer Alfred Lion initially shelved the recordings. They were not released until 1980 as part of the “Connoisseur” series under the title “Vertigo.” The quintet presented a dizzying variety of styles—from energetic post-bop to sophisticated funk to slow blues. The material on the album was paired with a classic hard bop number from 1959, which McLean had originally recorded with another excellent quintet for the album “New Soil.” However, it had not appeared on that album due to lack of space. Blue Note Tone Poet Edition: Stereo, produced by Joe Harley, fully remastered in analog by Kevin Gray from the original tapes, RTI pressing (180g), sturdy tip-on gatefold sleeve, padded inner sleeve