His father, John Sr., who died in 1939, played guitar in Tiny Bradshaw's orchestra. After his father's death, his musical education was continued by his godfather, by his stepfather, who owned a record store, and by several noted teachers. He also received informal tutoring from neighbours Thelonious Monk, Bud Powell, and Charlie Parker. During high school he played in a band with Kenny Drew, Sonny Rollins, and Andy Kirk, Jr. (the tenor saxophonist son of Andy Kirk).
He recorded with Miles Davis, on Davis' Dig album, when he was 19 years old. Rollins played on the same album. As a young man McLean also recorded with Gene Ammons, Charles Mingus, George Wallington, and as a member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers (he reportedly joined the Jazz Messengers after being punched by the notoriously violent Mingus and, fearing for his life, brandished a knife and contemplated stabbing him).
McLean was a heroin addict throughout his early career, and the resulting loss of his New York City cabaret license forced him to undertake a large number of recording dates; consequently he produced a large body of recorded work in the 1950s and 60s. He was under contract with Blue Note Records from 1959 to 1967, having previously recorded for Prestige. Blue Note offered better pay and more artistic control than other labels, and his work for Blue Note is highly regarded.
In 1962 he recorded Let Freedom Ring for Blue Note. This album was the culmination of attempts he had made over the years to deal with harmonic problems in jazz, especially in soloing on his piece "Quadrangle." (*"Quadrangle" appears on BST 4051, Jackie's Bag, recorded in 1959). Let Freedom Ring began a period in which he performed with avant-garde musicians rather than the veteran hard bop performers he had been performing with. His recordings from 1962 on, in which he adapted the innovations of modal and free jazz to hard bop, made his body of work distinctive.
In 1964, he served six months in prison on drug charges. The period immediately after his release from prison is known as his acid period because the three albums he released during it were much harsher in tone than his previous albums.
In 1967 his recording contract, like the contracts of many other progressive musicians, was terminated by Blue Note's new management. His opportunities to record promised so little pay that he abandoned recording as a way to earn a living, concentrating instead on touring. In 1968 he began teaching at The Hartt School of the University of Hartford. He later set up the university's African American Music Department (now the Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz) and its Jazz Studies degree program.
In 1970 he and his wife Dollie founded the Artists' Collective, Inc. of Hartford, an organization dedicated to preserving the art and culture of the African diaspora. It provides educational programs and instruction in dance, theatre, music and visual arts.
He received an American Jazz Masters fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts in 2001.
His son René is a jazz saxophonist and flautist as well as a jazz educator.
After a long illness, McLean died on March 31, 2006 in Hartford, Connecticut
Don't Blame Me
Jackie McLean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've hung around you just like a fool
Falling head and heels in love like a kid out of school.
My poor heart is in an awful state now
But it's too late now to call a halt
So if I become a nuisance it's all your fault!
Don't blame me for falling in love with you
I'm under your spell but how can I help it!
Don't' blame me!
Can't you see when you do the things you do!
If I can't conceal the thrill that I'm feeling,
Don't blame; me.
Ican't help it if that doggoned moon above
Makes me need someone like you to love!
Blame your kiss as sweet as a kiss can be
And blame all your charms that melt in my arms
But don't blame me.
I like every single thing about you
Without a doubt you are like a dream
In my mind I find a picture of us as a team
Ever since the hour of our meeting
I've been repeating a silly phrase
Hoping that you'll understand me one of these days.
Don't blame me for falling in love with you
I'm under your spell but how can I help it!
Don't' blame me!
Can't you see when you do the things you do!
If I can't conceal the thrill that I'm feeling,
Don't blame; me.
Ican't help it if that doggoned moon above
Makes me need someone like you to love!
Blame your kiss as sweet as a kiss can be
And blame all your charms that melt in my arms
But don't blame me.
The lyrics of Jackie McLean's "Don't Blame Me" tell the story of someone who has fallen deeply in love with another person and cannot control their feelings. The singer speaks of being under a spell, unable to resist the charms of the person they're in love with. They describe themselves as a "fool" and "head over heels in love like a kid out of school." Despite being fully aware of their intense emotions, they acknowledge that it's too late to stop them.
The singer takes ownership of their feelings, claiming that they can't help but love the other person. They attribute their feelings to the magic of the moon above and the charms of the other person's kiss and embrace. However, the title of the song, "Don't Blame Me," implies that the singer feels they may be judged or criticized for their feelings, as if they're doing something wrong by falling in love.
Overall, the lyrics convey the overwhelming power of love and how it can take hold of someone's heart and mind, leaving them helpless to resist its pull.
Line by Line Meaning
Ever since the lucky night I found you
Since I met you on that fortunate evening, my life has revolved around you.
I've hung around you just like a fool
I have been foolishly drawn towards you and have found myself near you often.
Falling head and heels in love like a kid out of school.
I have fallen helplessly and unconditionally in love with you, like an inexperienced child.
My poor heart is in an awful state now
My heart is in a terrible condition at the moment.
But it's too late now to call a halt
However, it is too late to stop my feelings now.
So if I become a nuisance it's all your fault!
If I end up bothering you, it is entirely your responsibility since you are the cause of my infatuation.
Don't blame me for falling in love with you
Please do not hold me accountable for falling in love with you.
I'm under your spell but how can I help it!
You have enchanted and captivated me, leaving me with no choice but to love you.
Don't' blame me!
Again, do not blame me for my feelings.
Can't you see when you do the things you do!
When you go about your day and act the way you do, can't you see the effect it has on me?
If I can't conceal the thrill that I'm feeling,
If I am unable to hide the excitement and joy that you bring me,
Don't blame; me.
Please do not put the blame on me for expressing the way I feel.
I can't help it if that doggoned moon above
I have no control over the influence the moon has on me.
Makes me need someone like you to love!
However, it is because of this uncontrollable force that I have found myself yearning for someone like you.
Blame your kiss as sweet as a kiss can be
The reason for my intense emotions can be attributed to your sweet and tender kisses.
And blame all your charms that melt in my arms
Additionally, you have a magnetic quality that makes me want to hold you close to me.
But don't blame me.
Yet again, I implore you not to hold me accountable for feeling this way.
Lyrics © DistroKid, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DOROTHY FIELDS, JIMMY MC HUGH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
DarkeningSkies1
Always thought it was cool that McLean and Mitchell simply didn’t play on this track. Give the rhythm section some!
DrJones
very very good :))
Ole Birger Pedersen
Since I first heard Jackie Maclean in the play "Conction " I've been I great fan.
Ole Birger Pedersen
Connection of cause !!!