Liner Notes

McLean and Tolliver were joined by pianist Herbie Hancock, bassist Cecil McBee, and drummer Roy Haynes. While the music was classified as “the new thing” at the time, the searing cry of the blues is ever-present in McLean’s brilliant alto saxophone playing. The artwork is one of Reid Miles’ most memorable cover designs. Blue Note Tone Poet Series The Blue Note Tone Poet Series was born out of Blue Note President Don Was’ admiration for the exceptional audiophile Blue Note LP reissues presented by Music Matters. Was brought Joe Harley (from Music Matters), a. k.

a. the “Tone Poet,” on board to curate and supervise a series of reissues from the Blue Note family of labels. Extreme attention to detail has been paid to getting these right in every conceivable way, from the jacket graphics and printing quality to superior LP mastering (direct from the master tapes) by Kevin Gray to superb 180 gm audiophile LP pressings by Record Technology Inc. Every aspect of these Blue Note/Tone Poet releases is done to the highest possible standard. Blue Note Records’ Tone Poet Audiophile Vinyl Reissue Series is produced by Joe Harley and features all-analog, mastered-from-the-original-master-tape 180g audiophile vinyl reissues in deluxe gatefold packaging. Mastering is by Kevin Gray (Cohearent Audio) and vinyl is manufactured at Record Technology Incorporated (RTI).

This impassioned quintet session from 1964 weaves elements of post-bop and free jazz into a supremely spirited program of original compositions by Jackie McLean and the young trumpet sensation Charles Tolliver.