Biography
Born to altoist Jackie McLean, René began his alto studies at age nine under both his father and Sonny Rollins. During the first half of the 1970s he spent three years on baritone, later switching to alto, in Tito Puente’s band while also appearing alongside Sam Rivers, Lionel Hampton, and his father in the Cosmic Brotherhood. In the middle of the decade McLean joined a quintet featuring Woody Shaw and Louis Hayes, launched an association with Hugh Masekela in 1978, relocated permanently to South Africa in 1985, and fronted his own ensemble. Toward the close of the 1980s he cut a duo recording with his father for Triloka; separate leader dates had already appeared on SteepleChase in 1975 and would follow on Triloka in 1993.
Albums