Jazz, soul & blues
Les McCann
Les McCann (1935-2023), American pianist and singer, was one of the fathers of soul jazz. His name remains forever tied to Montreux by “Swiss Movement”, one of the most famous live records ever made at the festival.
Les McCann: “Swiss Movement”
21 June 1969: “Compared to What”
On 21 June 1969, at the Casino de Montreux, Les McCann’s trio was meant to play alone. On a whim, saxophonist Eddie Harris, billed separately, decided to join him, soon joined by trumpeter Benny Bailey. With Leroy Vinnegar on bass and Donald Dean on drums, they improvised an anthology set.
The opener, Gene McDaniels’s “Compared to What” — a cry against the Vietnam War — became a hit. Released by Atlantic in October 1969, the album “Swiss Movement” went gold and reached number two on the R&B charts: jazz recorded in Montreux conquering America.