LES McCANN TRIO - Live In Hollywood, New York & San Francisco
Groove Hug Records GH66722
CD One tracks 1 to 12
Les McCann Ltd Plays The Shout
Les McCann ( pno ) Leroy Vinnegar ( basss ) Ron Jefferson ( drs )
Recorded live at The Bit, Hollywood,16 / 17 July 1960
CD One tracks 13 to 16 and CD Two tracks 1 to 4
Les McCann Ltd Plays The Shampoo at the Village Gate
Les McCann ( pno ) Herbie Lewis ( bass ) Ron Jefferson ( drs )
Recorded live at the Village Gate, New York 29 December 1961
CD Two tracks 5 to 15
Les McCann Ltd in San Francisco
Les McCann ( pno ) Herbie Lewis ( bass ) Ron Jefferson ( drs )
Recordedlive at the Jazz Workshop, San Francisco, December 1960
Les McCann committed the cardinal sin in jazz circles , he became popular, during the Fifties and Sixties it was considered by some jazz followers and critics that being popular was a sign of selling out.
Believe it or not this happened to The Modern Jazz Quartet and the Dave Brubeck Quartet but fortunately these groups had the last laugh as they were lauded with critical acclaim during later years.
It is often forgotten even today with the music being taken so seriously that jazz started out as a popular music and was even used for dancing to God forbid.
Les McCann was a fine pianist deeply rooted in the blues and gospel music able to work an audience so that all went away having had an uplifting experience.
This two CD tset contains performances from live venues and is obvious from their reaction that a good time was had by all and unusually this translates itself the recording.
Amongst the tracks there is a number of Les NcCann originginals and the rest is made up of well known standards plus a smattering of jazz standards like “Woody’n You” and “Frankie and Johnny” but all have one thing in common they swing and are full of jazz feeling.
A McCann original “Smiley Stacey” is taken at a brisk tempo but Les McCann is still able to give some down home feeling.
2Frankie and Johnny” is one of the best tracks on the album with the trio working like a well oiled machine with the tension building till it reaches it’s climax.
This is enough variety on these two CDs to keep the listener interested and the whole album has that feel good factor which is notably absent from much of the new jazz.
Reviewed by Roy Booth
Groove Hug Records GH66722
CD One tracks 1 to 12
Les McCann Ltd Plays The Shout
Les McCann ( pno ) Leroy Vinnegar ( basss ) Ron Jefferson ( drs )
Recorded live at The Bit, Hollywood,16 / 17 July 1960
CD One tracks 13 to 16 and CD Two tracks 1 to 4
Les McCann Ltd Plays The Shampoo at the Village Gate
Les McCann ( pno ) Herbie Lewis ( bass ) Ron Jefferson ( drs )
Recorded live at the Village Gate, New York 29 December 1961
CD Two tracks 5 to 15
Les McCann Ltd in San Francisco
Les McCann ( pno ) Herbie Lewis ( bass ) Ron Jefferson ( drs )
Recordedlive at the Jazz Workshop, San Francisco, December 1960
Les McCann committed the cardinal sin in jazz circles , he became popular, during the Fifties and Sixties it was considered by some jazz followers and critics that being popular was a sign of selling out.
Believe it or not this happened to The Modern Jazz Quartet and the Dave Brubeck Quartet but fortunately these groups had the last laugh as they were lauded with critical acclaim during later years.
It is often forgotten even today with the music being taken so seriously that jazz started out as a popular music and was even used for dancing to God forbid.
Les McCann was a fine pianist deeply rooted in the blues and gospel music able to work an audience so that all went away having had an uplifting experience.
This two CD tset contains performances from live venues and is obvious from their reaction that a good time was had by all and unusually this translates itself the recording.
Amongst the tracks there is a number of Les NcCann originginals and the rest is made up of well known standards plus a smattering of jazz standards like “Woody’n You” and “Frankie and Johnny” but all have one thing in common they swing and are full of jazz feeling.
A McCann original “Smiley Stacey” is taken at a brisk tempo but Les McCann is still able to give some down home feeling.
2Frankie and Johnny” is one of the best tracks on the album with the trio working like a well oiled machine with the tension building till it reaches it’s climax.
This is enough variety on these two CDs to keep the listener interested and the whole album has that feel good factor which is notably absent from much of the new jazz.
Reviewed by Roy Booth
