By Brianmcmillen - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=63304195
(January 2, 2024) We sad to report the passing of soul and jazz great Les McCann, at age 88. One of the truly pivotal music figures in the 1960s amalgamation of the genres, McCann carved a sizeable niche for himself and helped elevate the work of other artists of the time.
The Lexington, Kentucky born McCann first appeared on the Ed Sullivan show as the result of winning a singing contest, but he soon formed his own jazz trio and began his work principally as a pianist and bandleader who, by the way, had a killer voice.
He recorded over two dozen popular albums during the 1960s, but it was the 1969 release of the live album Swiss Movement (recorded at the Montreux Jazz Festival), that became McCann’s brightest moment as a bandleader. It stormed onto both the jazz and pop charts, creating a signature song with “Compared To What” and firmly entrenching him as one of the most influential artists of the era.
(January 2, 2024) We sad to report the passing of soul and jazz great Les McCann, at age 88. One of the truly pivotal music figures in the 1960s amalgamation of the genres, McCann carved a sizeable niche for himself and helped elevate the work of other artists of the time.
The Lexington, Kentucky born McCann first appeared on the Ed Sullivan show as the result of winning a singing contest, but he soon formed his own jazz trio and began his work principally as a pianist and bandleader who, by the way, had a killer voice.
He recorded over two dozen popular albums during the 1960s, but it was the 1969 release of the live album Swiss Movement (recorded at the Montreux Jazz Festival), that became McCann’s brightest moment as a bandleader. It stormed onto both the jazz and pop charts, creating a signature song with “Compared To What” and firmly entrenching him as one of the most influential artists of the era.
McCann also worked with other jazz and soul giants ranging from Lou Rawls to Stanley Turrentine to Bill Evans., and continued to record well into the 21st century.
His passing, reportedly of pneumonia, reminds us again of his decades of greatness. We’ll be spending today basking in the many, many glorious recordings of Les McCann.
to the top of the charts, with both the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1969. This record not only achieved commercial success but also captured the essence of McCann's improvisational prowess and soulful expression. The track "Compared to What" from this album became a timeless anthem, reflecting the sociopolitical climate of the era.