Les McCann: Live At Montreux

Rating: ★★★

Record and Artist Details

Musicians:

Donald Dean (d)
Jimmy Rowser (b)
Les McCann (p)
Buck Clark (perc)

Label:

Warner Bros

March/2015

Catalogue Number:

81227 95888

RecordDate:

24 June 1971

Over the years the annual Montreux Jazz Festival has acted as an international springboard for many an artist. Take the case of crossover jazz-soul piano puncher Les McCann. After over two dozen albums into his career, McCann hit pay dirt in 1969 when he and saxist Eddie Harris rocked up at Montreux's lakeside casino leaving with the tapes of what became the million-plus selling album Swiss Movement. He and Eddie returned in 1971 for Second Movement, while the following year, McCann chose a stripped down unit for this, his third appearance. In keeping with the prevailing wind of social change the music had become even funkier, even more political. Taking similar routes to that of Curtis Mayfield and Stevie Wonder this mainly vocal session takes in ‘What's Goin' On’ and a rerun of ‘Compared To What’. However, the highlights are when McCann is joined by Roland Kirk on ‘Get Yourself Together’ and ‘Home Again’. Definitely one for the funkers.

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