Harold McNair

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

Life

McNair went to Alpha Boys School and played there with Joe Harriott , Wilton Gaynair and with Baba Motta's Band. He was also a member of Sonny Bradshaw's Jamaican Big Band . He then worked in the Bahamas , where he sang and recorded as Little G Calypsos. He can also be seen as the Calypsonian in the 1958 film Island Women . In 1960 he went to Miami , where he recorded his first album Bahama Bash . During this time he also turned to the flute, which would eventually become his main instrument. With Quincy Jones he went on a European tour, where he worked in Paris for film and television. Like Harriott, Dizzy Reece or Harry Beckett , he eventually settled in Great Britain, where he performed regularly in Ronnie Scott 's Club. Like Beckett, he played as the sideman of Charles Mingus in 1961 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 has recorded with Zoot Sims , Tony Crombie, and Jack Costanzo . In 1965 he played the album Affectionate Fink with the rhythm section of Ornette Coleman , with David Izenzon and Charles Moffett . He led his own groups, played with Ginger Baker's Air Force and with John Cameron's Off Center . He also accompanied American musicians such as Jon Hendricks , Blossom Dearie , Philly Joe Jones and Eddie Lockjaw Davis . His flute playing is striking in Ken Loach's film Kes . His saxophone joins the theme tune of James Bond - 007 chases Dr. No apparent. He can also be heard on recordings with Donovan ( There Is a Mountain , Donovan in Concert ), John Martyn , Steamhammer and with CCS by Alexis Korner .

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

Discographic 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 Nut , 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

Lexigraphic entry

Web links

personal data
SURNAME McNair, Harold
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Little G
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Jamaican calypso singer and musician (saxophonist, flutist) of modern jazz
DATE OF BIRTH November 5, 1931
PLACE OF BIRTH Kingston (Jamaica)
DATE OF DEATH March 7, 1971
Place of death London