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Les McCann: Invitation to Openness
As heard on these works, McCann had distinction in sound and style on piano and vocals, communicating with near pop-like fun and flair. McCann was poised to be great, yet something funny happened on the way to jazz stardom. Fusion, with its wild and wooly blend of traditional jazz and electronics, fractured the jazz fan base, leaving musicians like McCann a fractional audience. His '70s albums bathed too often in the waters of electronic wizardry, perhaps withering his acoustic jazz talents, or perhaps the audience for his experiments never caught up to his innovations.
The Water label, in its constant, worthwhile rummaging of the past, has reissued McCann's '71 album Invitation to Openness. Capturing the full splendor of fusion, the album is dominated by its opening track, the 26 minute-long "The Lovers." This lengthy, though thoroughly enjoyable track finds McCann employing an electrified strut of heavy beats, funky bass lines, and juiced-up guitars. The whole of this song, as well the remaining tunes, "Beaux J. Poo Boo," and "Poo Pye McGooche," is really a jamming forum for this exceptional set of musicians.
Track Listing
The Lovers; Breux J. Poo Boo; Poo Pye McGoochie (and his friends); Compared to What.
Personnel
Les McCann
pianoLes McCann: keyboards; Yusef Lateef: tenor saxophone, oboe, flute pneumatic flute, flute, David Spinozza: guitars; Cornell Dupree: guitar; Corky Hale: harp; Jodie Christian: electric piano; Bill Salter: bass; Jimmy rowser: bass; Bernard Purdie:; drums and percussion Al Mouzon: drums and percussion; Donald Dean; William Clark: percussion; Ralph McDonald: percussion.
Album information
Title: Invitation to Openness | Year Released: 2015 | Record Label: Omnivore Recordings