Born in New York City, Rene McLean is a world renowned saxophonist, composer, band leader, educator and producer. He began his musical training at the age of 9 under the tutelage and guidance of his father, the great Jackie McLean, and started leading his own bands at the age of 16. He has performed and recorded with the creme de la creme of Black Musical tradition: Jackie McLean, Dizzy Gillespie, Lionel Hampton, Tito Puente, Horace Silver, Babatunde Olatunji, Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba, Abbey Lincoln, Dexter Gordon, Yusef Lateef, as well as in collaboration with poet-activist Amiri Baraka. He is presently Professor of African American Music on the faculty of the Jackie McLean Institute at The Hartt School, University of Hartford.