JAZZ REVIEW : Lessons From Master McLean at Catalina’s

Jackie McLean, who introduced his band at Catalina’s Bar and Grill on Tuesday, represents the second of three jazz generations. His father was a name band guitarist; his son, Rene, like Jackie a gifted saxophonist, has contributed compositions to the latter’s library.

In fact, one of Rene McLean’s original works bore a title, “Time for Change,” that seemed symbolic of what both men have contributed over the years. Jackie McLean’s alto saxophone is capable at times of a searing, mordant sound and of impassioned, focused energy, yet at other points he revealed a sharply contrasted restraint, as he demonstrated in the pop standard “A House Is Not a Home,” to which he brought a personal touch without damage to the song’s inherent qualities.

The performance began with two numbers by the rhythm section, designed as showcases for the piano of Hotep Galeta. This adventurous artist from Cape Town, South Africa, who first heard jazz via the Voice of America, has long since absorbed the essence of the present keyboard generation, seemingly with a bow to McCoy Tyner among others. On his second piece, “You Don’t Know What Love Is,” his subtle yet briskly stated ornamentations brought harmonically new and vivid life to the 1941 pop song.

McLean’s opening number was an original piece that sounded like a cousin of “Giant Steps.” That this is an organized group soon became evident, as all four men (with Nat Reeves on bass and the explosively eloquent drummer Carl Allen) moved in parallel motions on various introductions, theme statements and endings. One tune seemed to hop, skip and jump from one meter to another while McLean rode the crest of a surging rhythmic wave.

It came as no surprise to hear that both McLean and Galeta are both professors at the University of Hartford in Connecticut. Visitors to Catalina’s, where this splendid unit is booked through Sunday, will find plenty to learn on a more informal basis.