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Les McCann: Pump It Up
The performances on the recording include guest appearances by jazz diva Dianne Reeves on the Bill Withers ballad “You Just Can’t Smile it Away,” and veteran keyboard player and vocalist Billy Preston on “Tryin’ to Make it Real” as well as the strongly gospel inspired “The Truth.” Blues singer Bonnie Raitt also makes an appearance on “The Truth,” adding her personal style of delivering “the word.”
All in all, Les McCann’s Pump It Up is a delightfully grooving piece of work. It offers high-level musicianship and some incredibly tight playing that could serve as a clinic in how to play in a great funky R&B band. This CD is recommended for Les McCann fans and those whose musical interests expand to include the world of funky Rhythm and Blues.
Track Listing
Pump It Up, Buckshot and LaFonque, Let it Ride (the Train), I Cant' Stand It, So What, You Just Can't Smile It Away, Tryin' to Make it Real, The Truth, Daylight, Funk It (Let the Music Play), I Can't Stand It--reprise
Personnel
Les McCann
pianoLes McCann, vocals; Ricky Peterson, Hammon B-3 organ; John Robinson, drums; Paul Jackson Jr., rhythm guitar; Abraham Laboriel, bass; Marcus Miller, bass; Maceo Parker, saxophone; Billy Preston, keyboards; Bill Evans, saxophone; Bonnie Raitt, vocals; Dianne Reeves, vocals; Paulinho da Costa, Latin percussion; Keith Anderson, saxophone; Tom Saviano, saxophone; Bill Churchville, trumpet; Tony Maiden, guitar; Maxaynh Lewis, Margaret Fowler Alan Abrahams, and Jim Gilstrap, background vocals.
Album information
Title: Pump It Up | Year Released: 2002 | Record Label: Intakt Records