Capuchin Swing

A classic hard bop album that finds Jackie McLean in a soulful, swinging mode. While not as avant-garde as his later work, the session is a perfect example of the straight-ahead, high-quality jazz that was the bread and butter of the Blue Note label. McLean's alto saxophone sound is sharp and blues-drenched, full of the raw emotion that characterized his playing, and the interplay with trumpeter Blue Mitchell is a highlight.