Recorded in response to requests from Japanese jazz lovers, Nature Boy is a laid-back program of mainstream ballads featuring the legendary alto saxophonist joined by Cedar Walton on piano, David Williams on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums. McLean, a veteran of bebop, the avant-garde, and more, has often featured ballads in his live sets. But what he really excels at is full-speed-ahead, bebop-and-beyond blowing, and there's precious little of that here. The title track builds a taut, midtempo groove under an Eastern motif, and "Star Eyes" recalls Bird in flight. But McLean's tone, still more tart than sweet, falters on standard ballads such as "You Don't Know What Love Is" and "I Can't Get Started with You." The rhythm section offers world-class professionalism but says little with these tunes that hasn't been said countless times before. --Rick Mitchell