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
Star Eyes
Jackie McLean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That to me is what your eyes are,
Soft as stars in April skies are,
Tell me some day you'll fulfill
Their promise of a thrill.
Star eyes,
Flashing eyes in which my hopes rise,
Let me prove that it adores
That loveliness of yours.
All my life I've felt
Content to stargaze at the skies.
Now I only want to to melt
The stardust in your eyes.
Star eyes,
When if ever, will my lips know
If it's me for whom those eyes glow?
Makes no diff'rence where you are,
Your eyes still hold my wishing star,
Oh, star eyes, how lovely you are.
The lyrics to Jackie McLean's song "Star Eyes" are a romantic ode to the beauty and allure of someone's eyes. The singer describes the eyes as resembling stars in the sky during April, emphasizing their softness and captivating quality. The lyrics convey the desire for a deeper connection, with the hope that one day the person will fulfill the promise of a thrilling experience. The eyes are portrayed as flashing, indicating a sense of excitement and anticipation. The singer eagerly wants to show where their heart lies and prove their adoration for the person's loveliness.
The lyrics continue by expressing how the singer has spent their life content with looking at the stars in the sky, but now all they want is to melt the stardust in the person's eyes. This implies that the singer has shifted their focus from the wonders of the universe to the enchanting presence of the person before them. The question is posed as to when, if ever, will the singer's lips discover if it is their presence that makes those eyes glow. The song concludes with the acknowledgement that it doesn't matter where the person is, as their eyes will always hold the singer's wishing star, symbolizing their hopes and desires. The final line praises the person's beauty, emphasizing the impact they have on the singer.
Line by Line Meaning
Star eyes
Your eyes are like stars, shining brightly and capturing my attention.
That to me is what your eyes are
In my perception, your eyes resemble stars in their beauty and softness.
Soft as stars in April skies are
Just like the gentle stars in the skies of April, your eyes carry a tender charm.
Tell me some day you'll fulfill
I hope that one day you will fulfill the promises and excitement reflected in your eyes.
Their promise of a thrill
Your eyes hold the potential for an exhilarating and thrilling experience.
Flashing eyes in which my hopes rise
Your eyes, full of energy and intensity, give rise to my hopes and desires.
Let me show you where my heart lies
Allow me to demonstrate the depth and sincerity of my affection for you.
Let me prove that it adores
Grant me the opportunity to demonstrate how my heart truly admires and cherishes you.
That loveliness of yours
I am captivated by your beauty and all the wonderful qualities you possess.
All my life I've felt
Throughout my entire existence, I have always experienced
Content to stargaze at the skies
a sense of contentment while appreciating the stars in the sky.
Now I only want to to melt
However, now my sole desire is to dissolve
The stardust in your eyes
the enchanting and magical essence that seems to reside within your eyes.
When if ever, will my lips know
I wonder, at what point in time, if at all, will I discover
If it's me for whom those eyes glow?
whether it is my presence that ignites the radiance within your eyes?
Makes no diff'rence where you are
It doesn't matter where you may be located,
Your eyes still hold my wishing star
your eyes continue to hold the star that represents my heartfelt desires and aspirations.
Oh, star eyes, how lovely you are
Oh, eyes that resemble stars, you possess a profound and captivating beauty.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, ANTHEM ENTERTAINMENT LP, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Gene De Paul, Don Raye
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind