1972 · Album
Live at Montmartre
Recorded 1972 · SteepleChase · Venue: Jazzhus Montmartre
McLean in Motion: A Copenhagen Encore
McLean proves he still had plenty to say, swinging hard with a tight European rhythm section.
By 1972, Jackie McLean had already made his mark — a saxophonist whose Blue Note records from the 1960s established him as a major voice in modern jazz. This live recording from the Jazzhus Montmartre catches him in a different mode: not the restless innovator of his earlier years, but an artist in full command, playing with seasoned confidence before a European audience. It's a late-career moment, though not a farewell or a backward glance. McLean is still exploring, still pushing his alto through unexpected turns, but now with the ease of someone who knows exactly what he can do.
The rhythm section — Kenny Drew on piano, Bo Stief on bass, and Alex Riel on drums — locks in tight, giving McLean room to breathe without ever letting the music drift. Drew's comping is sharp and responsive; the bass and drums anchor everything without ever settling into autopilot. AllMusic reviewer Scott Yanow heard it as McLean at the top of his powers, still plenty of invention on display, his tone instantly recognizable even as the music around him shifts. The Penguin Guide awarded it a perfect 4 out of 4, which says something about how seriously serious listeners took this session.
This isn't the album to start with if you're new to McLean — go to Jackie's Bag (1960) or his Blue Note work first. But for anyone who knows his earlier recordings, Live at Montmartre matters because it shows the player he became: mature, focused, and still capable of making a strong night in a small Copenhagen club feel like essential listening.
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