Harold McNair
November 5, 1931 – March 7, 1971
Harold McNair was a respected jazz flautist and saxophonist who followed a less-than-traditional way to jazz greatest. Born in Jamaica, McNair spent the early years of his career making Island music. He also sang Calypso. McNair recorded his first album, 1960’s Bahama Bash, in Miami, Florida, and in 1960, he moved to Europe where he toured with Quincy Jones before settling in London. He also played on the scores of several Paris films and television programs. Soon, McNair joined up with Charles Mingus, but the quartet was quickly derailed thanks to a U.K. musicians’ strike. McNair released several albums throughout his career, and played on recordings by the likes of Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis, Blossom Dearie, Donovan, and Ginger Baker. Harold McNair died of lung cancer on March 7, 1971. He was just 39 years old.
What You Should Own
In 1961 Harold and I flew from Nassau to Miami to see Sammy Davis Jr. We were friends and shared the love of music. Was sad to hear the passed so young.
Live on Uncle, live on. You were great!
Harold McNair is about the best I have ever heard on the instrument (although the tune, "The Hipster", is far from his best work). I have finally heard him on the album Flute & Nut (which I highly recommend). And now that I have finally hear him, I am certain that he influenced Jeremy Steig…heavily!…
It's funny but I heard about Harold McNair for years but there was never anything I could find on the web to listen to. The reissue that I stumbled across (Flute & Nut) is from 2012. So, I discovered probably one of the best jazz flutists, ever, over 40 years after he died (in 1971)…We should all have a close listen to him!…
Hi Bill,
you are absolutely right. One should have a closer listen to him on these recordings e.g.:
George Symonette-Plays and sings Calypso-Bahama Records-℗ 1954
Freddie Munnings & His Silver Slipper Orchestra-
Calypso and Goombay Rhythms-Bahama Records-℗ 1955
Freddie Munnings & His Famous Orchestra-Goombay Rhythms-Bahama Records-℗ 1956
Various Artists-Beat Of The Bahamas-Artec Productions Ltd./Bahama Airways
Various Artists-Hits from Bahama Hot Spots-Bahama Records-℗ 1956
Various Artists-Nassau’s Junkanoo Festival-Bahama Records-℗ 1956
Various Artists-Bacchanal at Chez Paul Meeres-CARIB Rec.-℗ 1958
Little G-Bahama Bash-Top Rank Records-℗ 1960
Harold McNair-Up In The Air With Harold McNair-Bahama Records-℗ 1960
The Quincy Jones Big Band-Swiss-Radio Days Jazz Series, Vol. 1, Lausanne-TCB-℗ 1960
Tony Crombie-Whole Lotta Tony-Ember Records-℗ 1961
Zoot Sims-Zoot at Ronnie Scott’s-Fontana Records-℗ 1961
Jack Costanzo-Equation in Rhythm-Fontana Records-℗ 1962
Dr. No-The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack-EMI Capitol-℗ 1962
Harold McNair-Affectionate Fink-Island Records-℗ 1965
Donovan-Fairytale-PYE Records-℗ 1965
Donovan-Sunshine Superman-Epic Records-℗ 1966
Donovan-Mellow Yellow-EMI Records-℗ 1967
Donovan-A Gift From A Flower To A Garden-PYE Records-℗ 1967
Pat Smythe Trio-UK Live Vol. 1 (Nottingham)-Jazzhus Disk-℗ 1967
Pat Smythe Trio-UK Live Vol. 2 (Nottingham)-Jazzhus Disk-℗ 1967
Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis-Oh Gee-Live Manchester-Jasmine Records-℗ 1967
Donovan-Donovan In Concert-Complete Anaheim Show-EMI Records-℗ 1967
Picadilly Line-The Huge World Of Emily Small-CBS Records-℗ 1967
Philly Joe Jones-Mo’ Joe aka Trailways Express-Black Lion-℗ 1968
Harold McNair-Harold McNair-RCA Victor-℗ 1968
Donovan-Donovan In Concert-EMI Records-℗ 1968
Donovan-Hurdy Gurdy Man-Epic Records-℗ 1968
Lionel Bart-Isn’t This Where We Came In?-Decca Rec.-℗ 1968
Vic Lewis-Donovan-My Way as Performed by Vic Lewis and His Orchestra-CBS-℗ 1968
Tim Hollier-Message to a Harlequin-Imperial Rec-℗ 1968
Davy Graham-Large as Life and Twice as Natural-Decca Rec.-℗ 1968
John Cameron-Kes-Original Sound Track-Trunk Records-℗ 1968
John Martyn-The Tumbler-Island Records-℗ 1968
Don Partridge-Don Partridge-EMI Columbia-℗ 1968
Syd Dale-Flamboyant Themes Vol. III-KPM Rec.-℗ 1968
John Cameron-Off Centre-Decca Records-℗ 1969
Donovan-Barabajagal-Epic Records-℗ 1969
Vic Lewis-The Beatles-My Way-NEMS Records-℗ 1969
Steamhammer-Steamhammer-CBS Records-℗ 1969
Keith Mansfield / Syd Dale-Chorus And Orchestra-KPM Records-℗ 1969
Brian Bennett-The Illustrated London Noise-EMI Columbia-℗ 1969
Kathe Green-Run The Length Of Your Wildness-Deram Records-℗ 1969
Al Jones-Alun Ashworth Jones-Parlophone Records-℗ 1969
Magna Carta-Magna Carta-Mercury Records-℗ 1969
Marc Brierley-Hello-CBS Records-℗ 1969
Blossom Dearie-That’s Just the Way I Want to Be-Fontana Records-℗ 1970
Jon Hendricks-LIVE-Fontana Records-℗ 1970
Harold McNair-Flute & Nut-RCA International-℗ 1970
Harold Mc Nair-The Fence-B & C Records-℗ 1970
Ginger Baker’s Air Forcce-Ginger Baker’s Air Force-Polydor-℗ 1970
Ginger Baker’s Air Force-Ginger Baker’s Air Force 2-Polydor-℗ 1970
Ginger Baker’s Air Force-Ginger Baker’s Air Force 2-Polydor-℗ 1970 (diff. German release)
Philamore Lincoln-The North Wind Blew South-Epic/Sony Records-℗ 1970
Melanie-Candles In The Rain-Repertoire Records-℗ 1970
Peter Collins-First Album-Decca Nova-℗ 1970
Rosetta Hightower-Hightower-CBS Records-℗ 1970
Johnny Harris-Movements-Warner Bros.-℗ 1970
CCS-CCS-RAK Records-℗ 1970
Cressida-Asylum-Vertigo Records-℗ 1971
Caetano Veloso-Caetano Veloso-Philips-℗ 1971
Tim Hollier-Skysail-Philips-℗ 1971
Harold Mc Nair-Harold McNair-B & C Records-℗ 1972
Alexis Korner-Bootleg Him!-Castle Communications-℗ 1972
CCS-CCS II-RAK Records-℗ 1972
The Seven Ages of Man-The Seven Ages of Man-Rediffusion Rec.-℗ 1972
John Cameron-Psychomania-Trunk Records-℗ 1972
and on some EP B-sides with the French Marc Alsop Quintet on Panorama Records from the early sixties as well.
Kind regards
Wolfgang
🙂