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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 [...]

Woody Shaw Jr., was born on December 24, 1944 in Laurinburg, North Carolina. Shaw grew up in Newark, New Jersey. He started playing bugle when he was 9 with  the Washington Carver Drum and Bugle Corps. When he was 11 he started playing trumpet. He attended the Arts High School in Newark. While in high [...]