The son of altoist Jackie McLean, René studied alto with his father and Sonny Rollins from the age of nine. He played baritone and later alto with Tito Puente for three years in the early '70s and also worked with Sam Rivers, Lionel Hampton, and with his father in the Cosmic Brotherhood. McLean played in the mid-'70s in a quintet with Woody Shaw and Louis Hayes, started touring with Hugh Masekela in 1978, settled in South Africa in 1985, led his own group, and in the late '80s, recorded with his father for Triloka. Rene McLean has also led his own albums for SteepleChase (1975) and Triloka (1993). ~ Scott Yanow