Born in Harlem in 1931, Jackie McLean was born into jazz. His father was a jazz guitarist, and his neighbours included Bud Powell and Sonny Rollins. He soon became Powell's protégé, and later played with Rollins and Kenny Drew in a high school band. Like many players of his generation, he worshipped Charlie Parker, and his influence can be heard in McLean's early recordings with Miles Davis and George Wallington. By the end of the ‘50s, having recorded and performed with Davis, Thelonious Monk, Art Blakey and Charles Mingus, McLean had developed a sound that was all his own.