Two Altos, One Rhythm Section, No Fuss
Two saxophonists, one session, and nobody is playing it safe.
By 1957, Jackie McLean had already established himself as one of the sharper alto voices coming out of the hard bop scene — a player with a slightly raw, urgent tone that set him apart from the cooler school. John Jenkins was less prominent but no slouch, and pairing two altos in a front line was the kind of idea that could go sideways fast. On Alto Madness (1957), it mostly works. The two horns trade and overlap without turning into a traffic jam, and there is enough personality difference between McLean and Jenkins that you can follow who is doing what.
The rhythm section is solid and unfussy. Wade Legge on piano, Doug Watkins on bass, and Art Taylor on drums — these are players who know their job is to support, not compete. Taylor in particular keeps things moving without ever overplaying, which is exactly what a session like this needs. When two altos are already filling up the harmonic space, the last thing you want is a drummer grandstanding behind them.
This is not McLean at his most adventurous — if you want that, look elsewhere in his catalog. What you get here is a well-executed blowing session with a genuinely interesting premise that pays off more than it probably had any right to. Jenkins holds his own, the interplay between the two horns has some real heat in the better moments, and the whole thing moves at a pace that keeps your attention. It is a solid Prestige date from a productive era — worth your time if you like either of these players, and a good entry point if you are just getting into McLean.
Who's playing
Doug Watkinsdouble bass
Wade Leggepiano
John Jenkinsalto saxophone
Jackie McLeanalto saxophone
Art Taylordrums
