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Rene' McLean Born and raised in New York City, Rene McLean renowned Multi-reed Instrumentalist (Alto, Tenor, Soprano saxophonist, Flutes) began his musical training at the age of 9 under the tutelage and guidance of his father, world renowned alto saxophonist, Jackie McLean. Rene' recounts: "My Dad began giving me the saxophone in stages beginning with the mouthpiece then the neck and finally the horn". As a young adolescent the young McLean was already performing with local R&B, Latin and neighborhood bands, making his major debut with his father's band in the mid-1960's while he was performing with other professional groups of varied musical traditions. Rene' continued his studies with his father through primary and secondary school as well as with the Jazz Arts Society, HARYOU ACT Cultural Program, the Clark Terry Youth Band, Jazz Mobile and later at the New York College of Music (N.Y.U.), and the University of Massachusetts. In addition, he studied privately with such Jazz luminaries as Sonny Rollins, Frank Foster, George Coleman, Kenny Durham, Jackie Byard, Barry Harris and Hubert laws. He has performed and recorded as a leader and featured sideman with the crème de la crème of Black Musical tradition such as : The big bands of Dizzy Gillespie, Lionel Hampton- All Stars, Tito Puente, Cesar Concepcion, Frank Fosters -Loud Minority, Sam Rivers- Studio Rivebea, Ray Charles Orchestra and the Cape Town Symphony Orchestra; to the quartet's ,quintet's and sextet's of : Horace Silver, Dr. Billy Taylor, Woody Shaw, Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba, Abby Lincoln, Little Jimmy Scott, Artur Prysoc, Doug and Jean Carn, Sibongile Khumalo, Jaco Patorius, Jerry Gonzales-Forte Apache to name a few, as well as in collaboration with premier poet-activists Amiri Baraka (Leroi Jones), Jayne Cortez/Fire Spitters and as Musical Director/Composer for the production of Ntozake Shange's play " for Colored Girls", choreographed and directed by George Faison and "Oedipus The King" directed by Jonathan Wilson and many, many others. Rene' McLean draws inspiration and insight from the rich diversity of the inspiration African American tradition and various sources of world music genres with particular emphasis on Eastern and African traditions. He has been the recipient of several National Endowment for the Art's grants and fellowship awards. In 1986-87 Rene' was awarded the prestigious Creative Artist Fellowship by the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts to reside in Japan to research traditional Japanese music and culture as well as to teach and perform. He has also spent time researching musical traditions and performing in Bali, Indonesia. McLean's teaching experience unique and diverse. From 1970-73 he was Bandmaster for the N.Y. State N.A.C.C. Melrose Community Center, South Bronx. From 1984-85 Rene' was Artist-In-Residence at the University of Hartford's Hartt School of Music, Dept of African American Music. Since 1985 McLean has been living in South Africa, where he has been performing, teaching and researching African musical traditions. Rene` was instrumental in developing the music program and curriculum at the Mmabana Cultural Center in Mmabatho and served as the Director of the music program from 1987-1990. In 1991-1992 he was a visiting member of the New School Jazz Program. From 1994 to 1998 was Lecturer of Jazz Studies at the University of Cape Town, South Africa. McLean has performed, conducted workshops and lectured at numerous universities and cultural program's in the U.S.A., Caribbean, including Cuba, as well as South America, Europe, Japan , Indonesia, South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Swaziland, Namibia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Madagascar and Mauritius. In 1993 the United States Information Agency invited and sponsored the Jackie McLean/Rene' McLean "Jazz Dynasty" band to do a tour of six counties in Southern Africa. Rene' McLean's recordings include those with the elder McLean ,on Triloka records, "Dynasty" in 1990, and "Rites of Passage" in 1991 with Rene' McLean as featured quest and composer. In 1993 Triloka released Rene' McLean's CD, "In African Eyes", recorded in South Africa, the first CD to be recorded in South Africa by an American artist after the lifting of the cultural boycott and sanctions. Other recordings include the "Tenor sounds of Yusef Lateef and Rene' McLean" on Yal records 1994; a re-release of Rene' McLean's debut recording "Watch Out" on Steeple Chase Records 1994; "Louis Hayes-woody Shaw Quintet featuring Rene' McLean Live in Lausanne, Switzerland"TCB records 1996; "African Summit", a live Sun City concert recording featuring Rene' McLean along with South Africa's most prominent Saxophonist 1995 and Jackie McLean's 1998 Blue Note recording "Mac Band-Fire and Love" featuring Rene' McLean. Rene' Mclean defines his music as "transcending socio-political and cultural boundaries- it's a Universal Language". Rene' McLean has recently returned to the U.S.A and is presently available for bookings in the New Millennium 2000 and beyond! "What the Critic's have to say" Chicago Tribune: "Great talent in the performing arts does not typically pass from parent to child, but the happy exception that rule can be heard this week at the Jazz Showcase......There, alto saxophonist Jackie McLean is sharing the stage with his son and long time partner Rene' McLean a remarkably strong improviser on alto, tenor, soprano saxophones and flute. Together, these artists are performing with a fury and drive one does not often encounter....The senior McLean is but half the show, for his son plays with equal intensity, if in a different musical idiom. Influenced by the rhythmic irregularities of Thelonius Monk's music as well as the free-flying improvisations of the avant-garde, Rene' McLean clearly has forged a style of his own" Japan Times weekly: Sounds from three cultures-Asian-African and American--interwove to form a synthesis of global music at the April 4 performance of Rene' McLean's band Easterly Wind at the Cay restaurant/ club in Tokyo's Spiral building......Multi-freedman McLean's playing surely ranks with those of other top American bop players as George Coleman, Ricky ford and George Adams"......In an interview with the weekly, McLean said his "music is all about communication" and avoiding being pigeon-holed....By creating what he terms "world music," McLean says he hopes to transcend national boundaries.... Jazziz: "With his first solo recording for Triloka records, McLean is one step closer to claiming his own platform among America's great musicians".... "Although African influences have been appropriated by many who create music in America, rarely has someone been able to translate it so convincingly as Rene' McLean does here. In African eyes was recorded in Johannesburg, South Africa, using over 30 local musicians who successfully unite customary Township rhythms with the character of mainstream American Jazz". New Nation: "It is rare in the ruthless, competitive music world to find artists with a real commitment to sharing their knowledge and experience with others. But for American multi-reed instrumentalist, composer and Jazz educator Rene' McLean teaching is as important as playing. "The role of the artists is to use what they do to empower people, raise their conscious and heal them", he explains. "But performing is only one part of it. You have to give back. That is the only way you keep the tradition going.... Artists have to be prepared to take a chance on themselves. If they are not prepared to invest in themselves, why should somebody else? McLean asks.....One thing I admire about the hip-hop movement is that the young brotha's and Sista's in the city did it for themselves".... Village Voice: " The evenings highlight was a sequence where , in lieu of the usual fours, Jackie McLean and Rene McLean alternated in a series of sax-drums duets.....During the more than 20 years that Rene' has toured with his father's bands, he has become an increasingly persuasive player, but he's almost always reflected his father's impress. Recently, he seems to have come into a sound more his own. Whereas once he sounded like Jackie McLean on tenor, now he explores the more indigenous reach of the tenor, especially down below, and (conversely) the steeper altitude of the soprano. His solos are concentrated compilations of short, prodding figures, endlessly varied and strengthened with an intonation that recalls Coltrane in his Meditations period"....... Washington Post: The connection between African roots and American jazz is often referred to, but seldom has been demonstrated as persuasively as it is on Rene' McLean's CD "In African Eyes" Triloka Records. Selected Discography Rene' McLean "Watch Out" -Steeple Chase Records Rene' McLean "In African Eyes"- Triloka Records Jackie McLean featuring Rene' McLean "Cosmic Brotherhood/New York- Steeple Chase Records Jackie McLean featuring Rene' McLean "Dynasty"- Triloka Records Jackie McLean featuring Rene' McLean "Rites of Passage"- Triloka Jackie McLean featuring Rene McLean "Mac Band-Fire and Love"-Blue Note Records Yusef Lateef featuring Rene' Mclean "Tenors"- YAL Records Featuring Rene' McLean "African Summit" - Kaz Records Hugh Masekela w/Rene McLean "Home"-Sony records Woody Shaw Concert Ensemble w/ Rene' McLean "Live at the Berlin Jazz Festival CD/Notes:Review: Rene` McLean Live in South Africa Generations to Come: BY Ron Scott Special to the Amsterdam News Rene` McLean's New CD Live In South Africa "Generations To Come" is a Lively cultural fertilization of American and African roots. It features the talents of South African musicians Hotep Idris Galeta on acoustic and Fender Rhodes piano, Musa Manzini on acoustic bass, Bongani Sothonanda on Congas/African percussion and drummer Lulu Gontsana, from Mali West Africa, Sidi Sangare and Mohammed Jawara on Djembe and African percussion and from Chicago, Theaster Gates contributes with vocals/spoken -word. The content and length of the nine compositions are intact and the sound is perfect despite the simple recording technique. The ensemble has painted a thrilling mosaic canvas covered with colorful sounds of spontaneous improvisation that pushes the jazz envelope into extended territories. This is one of McLean's best recordings to date not only as leader but a player as well, playing multiple instruments with effortless precision (alto, tenor and soprano saxophones, flute, Shakuhachi, a Japanese flute and percussion). McLean doesn't consider his music as just jazz, which he finds somewhat confining. He prefers "Pan-African music". He noted, "This is my term for what I do and who we are culturally on a global level. Our music is being fused and absorbed by other cultures such as Africa, Middle-East, Asia and South America. All these elements (a mixture of their language, culture and musical knowledge) are being developed into a world eclectic sound that is bringing together larger and more diverse audiences". "Live in South Africa" is the debut recording for McLean's independent label I'jazza Records (pronounced ee'jazza) a family affair that includes three generations, his parents, Jackie and Dollie and his two sons, Rene jr. and Sharif. Mclean noted: "I started the label out of necessity, given the state of the music industry and the lack of opportunity. I refuse to be stifled or boxed -in by the dictates of the music industry. It's about being in control and owning what you do. Record labels were built on the backs of musicians and now they have made millions but artists are still struggling." The next CD "Time for Change", due early next year, will be collaboration between the entrepreneurial musician and his father Jackie McLean, world renowned alto saxophonist. Be sure to check out www.renemclean.com for more information. Check out the artist's website: http://www.renemclean.com Track List: 1. Books Bossa 2. Dance Little Mandisa 3. Rendezvous In Congo Square 4. Pretty Words 5. Malay Tone Poem/Freedom Danced 6. Third World Express 7. Harold's Bossa 8. Sista Lesotho 9. Muti Woman Suggested CDs:Other Genres:
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