4, 5 And 6 (Rudy Van Gelder Edition) (1956)

Jazz Podium De Tor-tip. "In 1956 Jackie McLean was only beginning to assert himself as a true individualist on the alto saxophone, exploring the lime-flavored microtones of his instrument that purists or the misinformed perceived as being off-key or out of tune. "4, 5 And 6" presents McLean's quartet on half the date, and tunes with an expanded quintet, and one sextet track -- thus the title. Mal Waldron, himself an unconventional pianist, is a wonderful complement for McLean's notions, with the impervious rhythm section Doug Watkins and Art Taylor. The quartet pieces range from totally bluesy, to hard bop ribald, to pensive and hopeful. Donald Byrd joins the fray on his easygoing bopper "Contour," where complex is made simple and enjoyable, while Hank Mobley puts his tenor sax to the test on the lone and lengthy sextet track, a rousing version of Charlie Parker's risk-laden "Confirmation." It's Waldron's haunting ballad "Abstraction," that somewhat illuminates the darker side." (Michael G. Nastos, Allmusic)