Les McCann - Live At Montreux (2006)

After releasing the album Swiss Movement at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1968, Atlantic naturally decided that four years later they would be able to repeat their success by releasing a super-trendy electric edition of Les McCann Ltd. Although there were no major hits this time, Atlantic got enough from McCann to release a steamy double album filled with harsh vocals, gospel-infused electric piano, culinary instrumentals, many of his popular protest songs, and several new numbers such as the driving "Cochise." Accompanied by the hard groove of Jimmy Roser (bass), Buck Clark (conga, percussion) and Donald Dean (drums), most of McCann's performances are at least as good as his studio recordings, although the inevitable return of "Compared to What" falls short of the 1968 version that set the pace. Eddie Harris did not appear in Montreux this time, but Rahsan Roland Kirk appeared, who came in the middle of "Get Yourself Together", howled like an air raid siren, and performed a funky impromptu encore. To get a vivid snapshot of Les McCann at the height of his career, this two-disc set is worth searching the shelves.