Les McCann Blindfold Test

[Jim Alfredson]

Found this on the Downbeat website:

Les McCann Blindfold Test from 1961

Dig what he says about the last tune. I agree completely with him (about Stanley, that is!!!!)

[Soul Stream]

If "Wadin'" isn't a five star performance, I don't know what is! Have to disagree with him on that one. Of course he's a right on about Stanley. George Tucker kills on that record.

[Dan Gould]

Thanks for posting this, B3-er.

[Shrdlu]

Get all the albums with this lineup - some under Horace's name, some under Stanley's. The Parlan Mosaic is recommended!

That rhythm section really tells a story and works hard. George Tucker was a physically strong bassist in the Mingus manner; one of my favorites.

Hey, old Les is hard to please, isn't he? Very stingy with his "stars". What would you have to do to get 4, let alone 5?

[BERIGAN]

3. Roland Kirk. "Our Love Is Here To Stay" (from Introducing Roland Kirk, Argo). Kirk, manzello; William Burton, piano; Don Garrett, bass; Sonny Brown, drums.

The instrument sounded like a soprano saxophone. I don't know if it was Steve Lacy or a guy I read about who plays about three or four instruments.

He projected a lot of feeling. At first, the rhythm section wasn't quite together. In spite of that, he was saying what he had to say right along. Through him, I think maybe I could learn to like this sound. He had a lot of control, and a soprano sax is a very hard instrument to play, especially trying to keep it in tune.

I don't really know if it was a soprano, but I liked it - his part. If it wasn't a soprano, it was an oboe. For the soloist, two stars. No, he was better than that. Let me add one. Three stars.

so, soprano, oboe????

[alankin]

3. Roland Kirk. "Our Love Is Here To Stay" (from Introducing Roland Kirk, Argo). Kirk, manzello; ...

The instrument sounded like a soprano saxophone. I don't know if it was Steve Lacy or a guy I read about who plays about three or four instruments.

[...] I don't really know if it was a soprano, but I liked it - his part. If it wasn't a soprano, it was an oboe.

so, soprano, oboe????

Joe Manzello

[alankin]

But, seriously, the manzello is a descendent of the saxello, which is basically a slightly curved soprano sax, also in Bb. [source is this Russian page on Rahsaan.]

[chris olivarez]

Overall I think that Les is a tough but fair critic though I don't agree with him about Herbie. Didn't Les employ congas on t least some of his later records/

[DrJ]

Maybe it's just that there was so much great music out in that time, but I actually think McCann was WAY overly critical. Christ, we're talking about glory period ART PEPPER and the freshness of the young ROLAND KIRK here, Les...clean the wax out!

Actually, I'm just kiddin', he's certainly more than entitled to his opinion, knows his stuff and expresses himself well. It's both funny and kind of true to talk about some of the more boppish stuff as sounding "nervous" as he puts it. Clearly he's more a fan of laid back, soulful jazz - not surprising given his own style!

But Pepper and Kirk, hey, we're talkin' about 2 of my favorites there. All I can say is if I'm at home "rating" those records alongside anything by Les McCann (not much of his stuff really floats my boat), I know who's going to come out WAY ahead!

Edited July 10, 2003 by DrJ

[chris olivarez]

I don't know that much about Pepper though I'd like to get that big box set of his.Hell if you're going to get better acquainted why screw around. I idolize Rashaan the man was just unbelivable and I like Les but overall Rahsaan's work is what has held up over the years.