Harold McNair

Harold McNair ( born November 5, 1931 in Kingston ( Jamaica), † March 7, 1971 in London ) was a calypso singer and musician ( saxophonist, flutist ) of modern jazz.

Life and work

McNair went to the Alpha Boys School, where he played with Joe Harriott, Wilton Gaynair and Baba Motta 's band. Then worked in the Bahamas, where he appeared as Little G and Calypso sang and recorded. He can also be seen in the film Iceland Women (1958 ) as a calypsonian. In 1960 he went to Miami, where he recorded his first album Bahama Bash. During this time he also turned to the flute, which was eventually to become his main instrument. With Quincy Jones, he went on tour in Europe, where he worked in Paris for film and television. How Harriott, Dizzy Reece and Harry Beckett, he eventually settled in the United Kingdom, where he performed regularly at Ronnie Scott 's Club. Like Beckett, he also played as a sideman in 1961 by Charles Mingus and can be seen in the film All Night Long. He was also a member of the bands of Mike Carr and Phil Seamen; He recorded with Zoot Sims, Tony Crombie and with Jack Costanzo. In 1965, he played an album Affectionate Fink with the rhythm section of Ornette Coleman, with David and Charles Moffett Izenzon. He led his own groups, played with Ginger Baker 's Air Force and with John Cameron's Off Centre. Furthermore, he accompanied American musicians such as Jon Hendricks, Blossom Dearie, Philly Joe Jones and Eddie Lockjaw Davis. His flute playing is distinctive in Ken Loach's film Kes. His saxophone enters Dr. No forth in the title tune of James Bond. He is also on recordings with Donovan ( There Is a Mountain, Donovan in Concert ), John Martyn, Steamhammer and the CCS to hear from Alexis Korner.

His composition " The Hipster " was played frequently later in Acid jazz clubs ( and can be found on Gilles Peterson's Impressed Compilation Vol 2).

Disco Graphical Notes

  • Up in the Air with Harold McNair, Bahamian Rhythms 1964
  • Affectionate Fink, Iceland 1965 ( with Alan Branscombe, David Izenzon, Charles Moffett )
  • Harold McNair, RCA 1968 ( with Bill Le Sage, Spike Heatley, Tony Carr)
  • Flute and groove, RCA 1970 ( with John Cameron )
  • The Fence, B & C 1970 ( with Keith Tippett, Ric Grech, Steve Winwood, Terry Cox, Danny Thompson, Tony Carr, Colin Green, Alan Branscombe )
  • Harold McNair, B & C 1972

Lexigraphischer entry

  • Richard Cook Jazz Encyclopedia. London, Penguin 2007; ISBN 978-0-141-02646-6
376248
de