At first glance, it could be easy to mistake Jackie McLean’s album Demon’s Dance as a close sibling of Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew. Both were released in the same year and sport psychedelic cover artwork by Mati Klarwein but the similarity ends there. Whereas Bitches Brew was a mind-bending concoction of jazz, rock and funk, Demon’s Dance is beautiful example of modal hard bop, recorded three years earlier in 1967 and was the last of 21 albums that McLean recorded for Blue Note Records.
Like many jazz greats, McLean started his career at a young age and recorded with Miles, Mingus and Art Blakey. Whilst much of McLean’s early career was spent trying to replicate the sound of the influential Charlie Parker, he later became inspired by the music of free jazz pioneer Ornette Coleman, leading him to experiment with more modal and free compositions. However, much like fellow Blue Note affiliate Bobby Hutcherson, McLean managed to explore these new avenues without losing site of his hard bop roots.
On the album, alto saxophonist McLean is accompanied by an excellent lineup with Woody Shaw on trumpet, LaMont Johnson on piano, Scotty Holt on bass and rhythmic powerhouse Jack DeJohnette on drums, a player who would go on to play on Bitches Brew and many fusion albums which followed. From the album’s opening track ‘Demon’s Dance’ to the blistering drum solo on ‘Message From Trane’, DeJohnette is a force to be reckoned with.
‘Sweet Love Of Mine’ is a beautiful, uplifting tune written by Woody Shaw. The rhythm section grooves along in samba time, providing the rhythmic foundation on top of which Shaw and McLean take turns to solo. Shaw’s playing has a latin feel to it whilst McLean’s characteristic tone shines through, one that is urgent, slightly sharp and bluesy. The result is a real ear worm of a track, in a similar way to John Coltrane’s ‘Impressions’ or Herbie Hancock’s ‘Maiden Voyage’. It’s impossible not to tap along!
For more magic from McLean, check out our ‘Sax Machines’ playlist and find more from Shaw in the ‘Brass With Class’ playlist!
If you enjoyed this post and want to stay updated, make sure to subscribe to our Spotify playlist and follow us on Instagram and Twitter!
