About this Event
Nate Spratford Presents: The Music of Jackie McLean
November 1, 2025 at 7:30pm
Alto saxophonist Jackie McLean (1931–2006) was one of the most vital and uncompromising voices in modern jazz. A protégé of Charlie Parker, McLean carved out his own fiercely individual style—raw, angular, and deeply expressive. His playing bridged hard bop, modal jazz, and the avant-garde, marked by a piercing tone and an adventurous harmonic imagination. Over a prolific career with Blue Note Records and beyond, McLean worked alongside legends like Miles Davis, Charles Mingus, Art Blakey, and Ornette Coleman, while also mentoring the next generation as a beloved educator at the University of Hartford’s Hartt School. His compositions such as Appointment in Ghana and Little Melonae remain cornerstones of the jazz repertoire, reflecting both urgency and originality. McLean’s legacy continues to inspire saxophonists and improvisers who prize both tradition and fearless innovation.
Carrying that legacy forward, Nate Spratford brings McLean’s music to life for a new generation. With a controlled yet impassioned approach to improvisation rooted in the jazz tradition and contemporary sounds, Nate is a rising voice on the alto saxophone. Born outside Chicago and now based in Nashville, he has quickly made his mark through performances at City Winery, Rudy’s Jazz Room, Analog at Hutton Hotel, and beyond. Nate’s artistry has taken him from collaborations with luminaries like Hannibal Lokumbe and Ari Hoenig to a State Department performance tour in Colombia. A devoted student of both the music and its history, Nate’s passion for connecting jazz’s past and present makes him a natural interpreter of Jackie McLean’s fiery, uncompromising spirit.
This concert will feature a stellar ensemble of Nashville-based jazz artists:
- Nate Spratford – alto saxophone
- David Williford – tenor saxophone
- Emmanuel Echem – trumpet
- Marc Payne – piano
- Rob Linton – bass
- Danny McGonegle – drums
Join us for an evening celebrating the brilliance of Jackie McLean through the voice of one of Nashville’s most exciting young saxophonists.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Nashville Jazz Workshop, 1012 Buchanan Street, Nashville, United States
USD 22.40 to USD 38.16
