Leslie Coleman McCann was born September 23, 1935 in Lexington, Kentucky.
While serving in the Navy, he won a talent contest as a singer which resulted in an appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1956.
After his discharge, McCann formed a trio in Los Angeles, turning down a chance to join the Cannonball Adderley Quintet so he could work on his own solo career.
McCann signed with the Pacific Jazz label and, starting in 1960, became well known as an influential and funky soul jazz pianist who had a sound of his own.
His singing was just an occasional event as he recorded popular trio albums and sets with Ben Webster, Richard “Groove’ Holmes, Blue Mitchell, Stanley Turrentine, Joe Pass, the Jazz Crusaders, and the Gerald Wilson Orchestra.
Les McCann recorded a hit album at the 1968 Montreux Jazz Festival (Swiss Movement), a spontaneous set with his trio, tenor-saxophonist Eddie Harris and trumpeter Benny Bailey that included his classic vocal on “Compared To What” and the soulful instrumental “Cold Duck Time.”
From that point on, McCann emphasized his singing and his music generally became soul-oriented although he continued playing piano and, by the 1970s, electric keyboards.
Since suffering a stroke in the mid-1990s, Les McCann has been less active although his singing has stayed strong and he retained his popularity.
Here is the famous version of “Compared To What” which was fortunately filmed.
McCann was mostly self-taught on piano and attended L.A. City College before spending time serving in the Navy.
While in the Navy, he won a singing contest which resulted in him appearing on the Ed Sullivan Show.
After his discharge, McCann settled in Los Angeles, formed his own trio, turned down an offer to join Cannonball Adderley’s quintet (since he wanted to develop his own solo career), and began recording for Pacific Jazz.
Les McCann, who was mostly heard as a pianist during that era, had his own influential soulful piano style, influenced by gospel music, r&b and the blues although he could also play straight ahead jazz styles.
His long string of trio albums for Pacific Jazz during 1959-68 were some of the finest of his career; McCann also recorded with Teddy Edwards, singer Gloria Smyth, organist Richard “Groove” Holmes, Stanley Turrentine, Lou Rawls (the classic album Stormy Monday), Clifford Scott, the Jazz Crusaders, and the Gerald Wilson Orchestra.
Although he recorded an early album called Les McCann Sings and he took an occasional vocal, it was not until he performed “Compared To What” (which he had actually first recorded in 1966) at the 1969 Montreux Jazz Festival during a famous set that co-starred tenor-saxophonist Eddie Harris that he began to switch his focus.
From then on, McCann became a singer who also played piano (and by the 1970s electric keyboards), moving a bit away from jazz (without leaving it entirely) in favor of performing funk and r&b.
Les McCann stayed busy until suffering a stroke in the mid-1990s; he made a comeback, at first mostly as a singer although he eventually regained his keyboard skills.
McCann made his final recording in 2012 and, due to his declining health, soon retired except for rare guest appearances.
From 1970, Les McCann, bassist Jimmy Rowser, and drummer Donald Dean perform “With These Hands” and “Compared To What.”
-Scott Yanow
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