Search - Les McCann :: Layers

I Love It!

Olukayode Balogun | Leeds, England | 05/26/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album is brilliant. McCann is a monster on the keys - piano, electric piano, ARP synth, clavinet, drums and tympani. He's joined by Buck Clarke on conga drums, bongo drums, blocks, bells and percussion, by Ralph MacDonald on conga drums, bells and percussion, by Donald Dean on drums, bells and percussion and by Jimmy Rowser on bass violin ("Sometimes I Cry" & "Soaring Part 1"), electric bass ("Let's Gather", "Dunbar High School Marching Band" & "Harlem Buck Street Dance"), strut bells and percussion. The music seems to seep out of the speakers like molten lava, like an auditory warm massage even. It's as smooth as silk but it isn't smooth jazz. It brings to mind some of my favourite moments from the likes of Herbie Hancock, Ronnie Foster and Stevie Wonder - all at the same time. Even though my copy arrived damaged and have been unable to play tracks 6-9, I still can't get it off my CD player. I love it!



(The seller has kindly offered without quibble, to send me a replacement, by the way)"

A Groundbreaking Album

J. Merritt | 08/20/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This record has a reputation that precedes it but, frankly, it should have more of one. That it is not thought of as one of the great jazz/funk records of the early 70's by everyone on earth is an injustice. McCann effectively merged genres, stepping out of his pure jazz work of the 60's into a fusion that incorporated improvisation and more of a soul/funk sound. He deserves more credit for bridging these rivers of music. He deserves more credit in general. He deserves to be listened to. Listen, please. I promise, you'll wanna buy."

Layers Of Imagination

Andre S. Grindle | Brewer Maine | 03/23/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have to say.......when Les McCann originally recorded this electronic album in the early 70's I am sure that (like many other recordings of it's type) this was received with all the enthusiasum of a broken down computer chip. But again as with many,in recent years there has been a complete re-evaluation of recordings like this. And that's so wonderful because in taken alone from the era 'Layers' is a soulful,grooving beautiful,imaginative and creative work of art-truly one of the major milestones the jazz-funk era ever produced. The music on this album is all very spare-the drums,along with Les's sussinct Fender Rhodes and ARP synthesizer solos are all heard playing different statements.Of important note,especially on the opener "Sometimes I Cry" the ARP solos take on the echoey,dreamy quality of some of the music Stevie Wonder was making during the same period (Wonder's Music of My Mind is a great side dish to this album) except for 'Layers' lack of vocals. On most of it this does sound a bit like what an early 70's Stevie Wonder instrumental album might have sounded like. The entire recording basically takes that form with the exception of the monsterously uptempo funk of "The Dunbar High School Marching Band" and "The Harlem Buck Dance Strut",where the Fender Rhodes playing is harsher and the style of playing is more percussive. Very much like Donald Byrd's Stepping into Tomorrow and Herbie Hancock's Thrust (both from the same time period) this album features the kind of spare production and "breaks" the modern day DJ's are still obsessed over and have more then enough great musical energy,passion and imagination to stand the test of time on their own. Either way 'Layers' is definately one of the major highlites of Les McCann's recording career."