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
I'm In The Mood For Love
Jackie McLean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Simply because you're near me.
Funny, but when you're near me
I'm in the mood for love.
Heaven is in your eyes
Bright as the stars we're under
Oh! Is it any wonder
Why stop to think of whether
This little dream might fade?
We've put our hearts together
Now we are one, I'm not afraid!
If there's a cloud above
If it should rain we'll let it
But for tonight, forget it!
I'm in the mood for love
The song "I'm in the Mood for Love" by jazz saxophonist Jackie McLean is a romantic ballad that expresses the feeling of being in love with someone. The lyrics convey the idea that simply being near someone can bring about a sense of heightened emotions and desire. McLean sings about the fact that being with this person makes him happy and he feels like heaven is in their eyes, which shines as bright as the stars they're under. There is no need to worry about the future because they have already put their hearts together and are now one. The idea of rain and clouds in the final verse seems to suggest that even if obstacles come their way, they will face them together with joy and love.
Overall, the song is a beautiful expression of the power of love to bring happiness and a sense of completion. It reminds us of the beauty of finding someone who can make us feel complete and fulfilled in life. This song has been interpreted by many artists over the years, but McLean's version is a classic that continues to resonate with listeners today.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm in the mood for love
I am currently feeling the desire to be in love
Simply because you're near me
My proximity to you is what is making me feel this desire despite there being no clear reason for it
Funny, but when you're near me
It may seem strange, but whenever you're close to me, I feel the urge to fall in love
Heaven is in your eyes
Your eyes are mesmerizing, and I feel like I am in paradise whenever I make eye contact with you
Bright as the stars we're under
Your eyes are as radiant as the stars shining above us
Oh! Is it any wonder
It's not surprising that I feel this way because of how wonderful and appealing I find you
I'm in the mood for love?
I just want to love and be loved by you
Why stop to think of whether
There's no need to worry about whether or not this feeling is real or fleeting
This little dream might fade?
There's no need to let doubts prevent us from enjoying this moment and letting our affection grow
We've put our hearts together
We have committed ourselves to this love
Now we are one, I'm not afraid!
I feel secure and confident with us being together
If there's a cloud above
Even if there are challenges or difficulties that we may face
If it should rain we'll let it
We will face those challenges together without letting them come between us
But for tonight, forget it!
We will not dwell on those challenges, but instead focus on the present moment
I'm in the mood for love
Once again, I am feeling the desire to love and be loved
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Dorothy Fields, Jimmy Mchugh
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind