The interview with Cecil McBee has been a long time coming. He is not an outspoken individual but one who found expression in his music. And wonderful it is; he found the hidden lines in compositions that created unexpected melodies that never detracted from the main theme- while staying in his “lane” he created something unexpected in so many recordings. I’m honored to be able to publish this interview, which I did in April of 2025.
Mr. McBee was gracious, soft spoken and articulate. At the same time, he seemed somewhat surprised that his body of work (which is considerable) is as highly prized today as it is. I offer this as an unvarnished take from a long conversation with the man, who I feel blessed to have encountered directly and unabridged. Any mistakes are mine. I feel honored to have encountered the man, first hand, in his own words. I hope you find the same joy in reading this piece as I did in talking with Mr. McBee, whose legacy will be enduring: one of finding the inner soul of the music which he composed or contributed to on so many records in the modern jazz era. I encourage readers to dig into Mr. McBee’s back catalog- some of the records are now expensive but there are a lot of records that won’t cost you much. And I’m informed that Mutima will soon be reissued. Exploration is part of the experience of music and Cecil McBee is a mainstay in some superb jazz offerings.
Bill Hart,
Austin, Tx.
Oct. 2025
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