John Lenwood (Jackie) McLean was born in New York City on May 17, 1931 or 32 according to some sources. His father, John Sr., was a guitarist for Tiny Bradshaw’s orchestra. He died in 1939. McLean grew up in Harlem around notable jazz musicians. When he was 15, he started playing the saxophone. He took music lessons from Bud Powell. He’s listed Sonny Rollins, Charlie Parker and Rahsaan Roland Kirk among his early musical influences. During high school he played with Sonny Rollins, Kenny Drew and Andy Kirk Jr.

When he was 19, McLean played on the Miles Davis album Dig along with Sonny Rollins. By 1955, he was playing with Paul Bley and Charles Mingus. Mingus was famous for his temper and after a volatile argument with Mingus ended with McLean pulling a knife, he left Mingus’s band to play with the Jazz Messengers.

In 1956, he started recording for the Prestige label. He signed a contact with Blue Note in 1959 because they gave him more creative freedom and higher pay.

McLean struggled with a heroin addiction early in his career. His addiction caused him many problems including loosing his cabaret license.  In 1964, he served six months in prison on drug charges.

After McLean started experimenting with acid and modal jazz, Blue Note terminated his contract. The follow year, 1968, he began teaching at the University of Hartford.

McLean became very ill in 2006 and died that year on March 31.