Les McCann

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Les McCann (2004, Photo: Clemens Pfeiffer, Vienna)

Les McCann (born  September 23, 1935 in Lexington , Kentucky ) is an American jazz pianist , singer and composer .

life and work

The heavily blues and gospel influenced pianist Les McCann was one of the pioneers of soul jazz alongside Ramsey Lewis . In 1969 Les McCann performed with jazz saxophonist Eddie Harris at the Montreux Jazz Festival and had a chart success with the song Compared to What , which appeared on the album " Swiss Movement " (covered by Al Jarreau, among others ). The song is a political criticism of the Vietnam War.

The President, he's got his war,
Folks don't know just what it's for.
Nobody gives us rhyme or reason,
Have one doubt, they call it treason.

Compared To What was originally recorded by Roberta Flack , who is believed to have been discovered by McCann, and is the first track on her debut album First Take (1969).

In the 1970s, Les McCann released numerous other records as a singer, with clear soul and funk influences.

In 1971 McCann and Harris performed with Wilson Pickett , The Staple Singers , Santana and Ike & Tina Turner in Accra , Ghana , at a concert in front of 100,000 Ghanaians. The concert was recorded as a documentary Soul To Soul and released on DVD in 2004. In 1975 he toured with Klaus Doldingers Passport (heard on Doldinger Jubilee '75 ). In 2004 he performed with Cornell Dupree (guitar), Ronnie Cuber (tenor saxophone), Gordon Edwarts (bass) and Buddy Williams (drum) at the Burghausen Jazz Week , where he presented his song Litle Blue Volkswagen .

Discography

Les McCann Trio (1962)

Albums

year title Top ranking, total weeks, awardChartsChart placements
(Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes) 		Remarks
US US
1968 Much Les US169 (10 weeks)
US
Atlantic
1969 Swiss Movement US29
gold
gold

(38 weeks)US
1971 Invitation To Openness US141 (6 weeks)
US
Atlantic
1972 Talk to the people US181 (6 weeks)
US
Atlantic
1974 Another beginning US166 (4 weeks)
US
Atlantic
1975 Hustle To Survive US161 (4 weeks)
US
Atlantic

More albums

  • 1960: The Shout (Pacific Jazz)
  • 1960: Les McCann in San Francisco (Pacific Jazz)
  • 1961: Les McCann in New York (Pacific Jazz)
  • 1969: Swiss Movement (Atlantic)
  • 1970: Comment (Atlantic; with Roberta Flack , Ron Carter, Billy Cobham, Richard Tee ao)
  • 1971: Second Movement (Atlantic; with Eddie Harris)
  • 1972: Live at Montreux (Atlantic)
  • 1973: Layers
  • 1976: River High, River Low (Atlantic)
  • 1978: The Man (A&M Rec .; with Richard Tee; Produced, Conducted and Orchestrated by Paul Riser; Executive Producer: Herb Albert)
  • 1979: Tall, Dark & ​​Handsome (A&M Rec .;)
  • 1985: Musicbox (Virgin; recorded live at Blues Alley Washington DC May 25-27, 1984)
  • 1990: Les Is More
  • 1994: On The Soul Side (MusicMasters)
  • 1998: Talkin Verve (Verve)
  • 2002: Pump it up (with Bill Evans (Sax))
  • 2004: Jazz Legend Project (megaphone)

Singles

year Title
album 		Top ranking, total weeks, awardChartsChart placements
(Year, title, album , rankings, weeks, awards, notes) 		Remarks
US US
1970 Compared To What US85 (4 weeks)
US
with Eddie Harris

Web links

swell

  1. ↑ a b Chart sources: US
  2. ↑ Music Sales Awards: US
personal data
SURNAME McCann, Les
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American jazz pianist, singer and composer
DATE OF BIRTH September 23, 1935
PLACE OF BIRTH Lexington, Kentucky