1 	Compared To What	8:55
2 	Cold Duck Time		7:08
3 	Kathleen's Theme	6:15
4 	You Got It In Your Soulness		7:34
5 	The Generation Gap		9:12
6 	Kaftan		8:43

Bass – Leroy Vinnegar
Drums – Donald Dean
Piano, Vocals – Les McCann
Tenor Saxophone – Eddie Harris
Trumpet – Benny Bailey

Recorded live at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Montreux, Switzerland in June 1969 

One of the most popular soul jazz albums of all time, and one of the best, although Harris (and trumpeter Benny Bailey) had never played or rehearsed with the Les McCann Trio before, and indeed wasn't even given the music. Perhaps that's what sparked the spontaneous funk coming through clearly on the tape of this show, recorded at the Montreux Festival in 1969. It's actually much more of a showcase for McCann than Harris, although the tenor saxist's contributions are significant. The sole vocal, a version of Gene McDaniels' "Compared to What," remains McCann's signature tune. [Some reissues add a nine-minute bonus track, "Kaftan."] ---Richie Unterberger, AllMusic Review

Something of a happy accident, this recording from the 1969 Montreux Jazz Festival has actually become one of the most talked about, exhilarating and fun live jazz performances ever captured on wax.

The session (on the last night of the festival) was a truly impromptu event - this particular line up had never played together before and at least half of the group had no idea what material they were going to play as they took the stage!

Kicking off with Gene McDaniels'; 'Compared To What', vocalist & pianist Les McCann sings this topical rant against Nixon and the Vietnam war over a funky backbeat. Horn men Eddie Harris and Benny Bailey take turns to blow some down home blues in between verses, surprisingly holding together brilliantly what was nothing more than a jam session to great effect.

The Harris original "Cold Duck Time" continues with a similar feel, an extrapolated blues vamp in the key of F. This simple good-time approach may not have pleased those with more critical ears, but the sound of the enthusiastic crowd prove that an up-tempo groove with some spirited blowing was exactly what the audience wanted to hear.

'Kathleen's Theme' swings in a more straight ahead approach and gives Harris's tenor the opportunity to investigate the intricacies of the melody - before the gospel based 'You Got It In Your Soulness' takes us right back to funky soul-jazz territory. McCann probes into the piece with his spiky, articulated piano chords and solo lines whilst drummer Donald Dean provides a sanctified back beat that reminds us of the church roots of much jazz & blues music.

The more contemplative and modal piece "The Generation Gap" provides a brief respite from the blues before the final track (not included on the original vinyl issue of the date). 'Kaftan' written by bassist Leroy Vinnegar is a pleasing if not overwhelming jaunt with a mildly afro-Cuban feel. Swiss Movement has long been a sought after collectors piece and the addition of expansive sleeve notes and anecdotes from the musicians involved makes this anniversary edition a great live recording to enjoy once again - 35 years after this very happening event. ---Greg Boraman, BBC Review

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Side 1 - 17:57

1.    Wonder Why (Nicholas Brodsky/Sammy Cahn) - 2:58
2.    It's Way Past Suppertime (Les McCann/Vicki Arnold) - 3:06
3.    'Deed I Do (Walter Hirsch/Fred Rose) - 2:54
4.    Since I Fell For You (Buddy Johnson) - 3:37
5.    But Not For Me (Ira Gershwin/George Gershwin) - 2:58
6.    I Cried For You (Gus Arnheim/Abe Lyman/Arthur Freed) - 2:24 				play

Side 2 - 16:53

7.    Sweet Georgia Brown (Kenneth Casey/Ben Bernie/Macio Pinkard) - 2:27			play
8.    Please Send Me Someone To Love (Percy Mayfield) - 2:32
9.    Next Spring (Marvin Jenkins) - 3:21
10.    Love Letters (Edward Heyman/Victor Young) - 3:16
11.    On The Street Where You Live (Alan Jay Lerner/Frederick Loewe) - 3:10
12.    Bye Bye Black Bird (Ray Henderson/Mort Dixon) - 2:07

Musicians:
Les McCann (piano, vocals)
Herbie Lewis (bass)
Ron Jefferson (drums).
+
Orchestra
Gerald Wilson (conductor, arranger)

This album, this one right here, exposes a fugitive. It flips the lid off Les McCann the piano player to reveal Les McCann the singer. The hidden man behind the man, the McCann behind the McCann. That in itself will be good news for previous McCann appreciators. (If some basketball players can rebuild 300 SL engines and some plumbers can reset broken bones, why shouldn't some piano players also sing?)

But do not think that McCann's vocal merit lies in the not-so-novel fact that he's also a fine jazz pianist. No. This singer stands on his own two feet. The fact is that he could (if absolutely necessary) sing with his hands tied behind him. Fortunately, strait jackets were ruled out of this recording session (wild though it may have been) and the piano you hear behind, above, below, around and in spite of the voice in these songs is being played by McCann.

As for variety of moods, you name it, you got it. McCann's a table hopper anyway. He jumps from frisk ("I Cried For You") to funk ("Sweet Georgia Brown"). Then he gets quiet ("Since I Fell For You") or all-out no-doubt down ("It's Way Past Suppertime"). And don't underestimate the steady but subtle ground floor built by Herbie Lewis' bass and Ron Jefferson's drums. Ochestrally they form the bottom but anyone with half an ear (even if it's atrophied, probably even if it's got a plug in it) can tell you that they're also the top.

A word about the frame this flat-fifth painting is set in. It is due to the combined musicality of Les McCann and arranger Gerald Wilson. Gerald has set the arrangements around Les' ideas, adding his own. The result is almost total freedom, almost total agreement. The music says more for the stature of Gerald Wilson the Arranger than these words ever could: he has a singular way of saying the right thing in the right place.

The rest of the notes will not be found on the album cover. Those notes are in the music, which is on the record, which should be on your record player as soon as you can make it.

This album should demonstrate the fact that true talent (feeling, beauty, swing, soul, whatever you like to call it this season) lies in the creator himself--and the release of that talent is not always limited to one vehicle of expression. In other words, never mind how you say it, just get it said. Les McCann gets it said. And he sings so much the way he plays piano that sometimes it's difficult to tell the two apart. --- Vicki Arnold

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1 	On Time		4:14
2 	Yours Is My Heart Alone		4:45
3 	This For Doug	5:35
4 	Fondue	5:12
5 	Bernie's Tune	3:02
6 	Maichen		4:34
7 	It Could Happen To You	5:00
8 	You're Driving Me Crazy		4:58
9 	So What		3:00
10 	Direct South 	3:29
11 	Drifftin' Blues 	4:27
12 	Midnight Special 	2:29

Bass – Leroy Vinnegar
Drums – Ron Jefferson
Guitar – Joe Pass
Piano – Les McCann 

Les McCann Ltd. in San Francisco: Recorded Live at the Jazz Workshop was recorded in December of 1960 and released in 1961 on the Pacific Jazz label. Backing his piano were bassist Herbie Flowers and drummer Ron Jefferson. The original LP of this date featured seven selections -- only about half of the entire gig. This Fresh Sound reissue contains four more tracks, bringing the total to 11. The LP included four McCann compositions, and while the additional tracks are all standards, they do include a very fine arrangement of "Frankie and Johnnie" and a medley of Johnny Burke and Jimmy Van Heusen's "But Beautiful" and "It Could Happen to You," as well as "Taking a Chance on Love" and "Love Letters." What's remarkable about these last four standards is just how seamlessly McCann and company weave them into their early hard bop cum soul-jazz style, with blues, gospel, and pop all brought out in equal measure. The performance is wonderful. That said, given that this is a Fresh Sound release, don't expect a pristine remastering job. ---Thom Jurek, AllMusic Review

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