Jackie McLean – alto saxophone [click here to see more vinyl featuring Jackie McLean]
Donald Byrd – trumpet
Herbie Hancock – piano (except A3)
Butch Warren – bass (except A3)
Tony Williams – drums (except A3)
Walter Davis Jr. – piano (A3)
Paul Chambers – bass (A3)
Pete LaRoca – drums (A3)
1 LP, tip-on gatefold jacket
Original analog Master tape : YES
Heavy Press : 180g
Record color : black
Speed : 33 RPM
Size : 12’’
Stereo
Studio
Record Press : Record Technology Incorporated (RTI)
Label : Blue Note – Tone Poet
Original Label : Blue Note Records
Recorded at Van Gelder Studios, Englewood Cliffs, NJ Recorded on February 11, 1963 (A1, A2, B1-3) and May 2, 1959 (A3)
Engineered by Rudy Van Gelder
Produced by Alfred Lion
Tone Poet reissue produced by Joe Harley
Mastered by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio
Originally released in 1980 (Blue Note LT Series)
Reissued in August 2026
Tracks:
Side A:
1. Marney
2. Dusty Foot
3. Formidable
Side B:
1. Vertigo
2. Cheers
3. Yams
Reviews:
“This 1980 recording released for the first time -- "Formidable" from a 1959 session and five numbers from a 1963 McLean set. While "Formidable" has a strong quintet (with altoist Jackie McLean, trumpeter Donald Byrd, pianist Walter Davis, bassist Paul Chambers, and drummer Pete La Roca), the 1963 session has the recording debut of drummer Tony Williams along with strong contributions from Byrd, pianist Herbie Hancock (then also near the beginning of his career), and bassist Butch Warren. The latter unit sticks to group originals by Byrd, Hancock, and McLean, and the music ranges from catchy funk and hard bop to strong hints of the avant-garde.” AllMusic Review by Scott Yanow
Ratings:
Discogs : 4.51 / 2 ; AllMusic : 4 / 5