Les McCann
Plays the Truth - Complete Sessions (FSRCD 646)
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Plays the Truth - Complete Sessions
Les McCann
Fresh Sound Records
8427328606462
ZZZ 126372
FSRCD 646
JAZZ
1
Plays the Truth - Complete Sessions
Currently unavailable
Born in Lexington, KY, in 1935, pianist Leslie Coleman McCann settled in Los Angeles in 1956. He emerged from obscurity after cutting “The Truth”, his first trio record, in February 1960, in which the walking bass of Leroy Vinnegar and direct swing of drummer Ron Jefferson were the perfect esthetic compliment to McCann’s music.
During the next few years he was the focus of widespread controversy as an exponent of a brand of piano jazz variously called Gospel, funk, soul, blues, back-to-the-roots, etc. While McCann acknowledged that almost all his relatives had sung in the church choir in Lexington, he said his music was a product of his early environment and no gimmick. “The way we play just fitted together as soon as Leroy and Ron and I first got together. We just started playing together, and it all made sense.”
This release also includes two rare tracks by the original trio, only issued on a Pacific Jazz single, plus a complete session recorded that same year, with bassist Herbie Lewis—who replaced Vinnegar that summer—and featuring two newcomers, vibist Bobby Hutcherson and tenor Curtis Amy.
This is all solid root material that lends itself to the unique McCann treatment.
During the next few years he was the focus of widespread controversy as an exponent of a brand of piano jazz variously called Gospel, funk, soul, blues, back-to-the-roots, etc. While McCann acknowledged that almost all his relatives had sung in the church choir in Lexington, he said his music was a product of his early environment and no gimmick. “The way we play just fitted together as soon as Leroy and Ron and I first got together. We just started playing together, and it all made sense.”
This release also includes two rare tracks by the original trio, only issued on a Pacific Jazz single, plus a complete session recorded that same year, with bassist Herbie Lewis—who replaced Vinnegar that summer—and featuring two newcomers, vibist Bobby Hutcherson and tenor Curtis Amy.
This is all solid root material that lends itself to the unique McCann treatment.
Personnel on all tracks:
Les McCann (p), Leroy Vinnegar (b), Herbie Lewis (b on #11-13),
Ron Jefferson (d). Guest: Bobby Hutcherson (vib, added on #14-15),
and Curtis Amy (ts, added on #15).
[1-8] recorded at United Recording Studios, Hollywood, on February 4, 1960.
[9 & 10] recorded at Rex Productions, Hollywood, on April 28, 1960.
[11-15] same location, but August 3, 1960.
Sources:
[1-8] from the Pacific Jazz album Les McCann Plays the Truth (PJ-2)
[9 & 10] from the Pacific Jazz single X-310
[11-13] from the Pacific Jazz album Les McCann-A bag of Gold (ST-20107)
[14 & 15] from the Pacific Jazz album anthology This is the Blues (PJ-13)
Tracks:
01. Vakushna
02. A Little 3/4 for God and Co.
03. I’ll Remember April
04. Fish This Week But Next Week Chitlings
05. How High the Moon
06. This Can’t Be Love
07. For Carl Perkins
08. The Truth
09. Little Girl from Casper
10. They Can’t Take Away from Me
11. Gone On and Get That Church
12. We’ll See Yaw’ll After While Ya Heah
13. The Truth
14. Oat Meal
15. One More Ham Hock Please
Total time: 74:00 min. aprox.
