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Les McCann, the American jazz pianist, vocalist and composer whose gospel-inflected soul jazz reached beyond jazz audiences, died in Los Angeles on December 29, 2023, at age 88. His best-known recording is the live 1969 Montreux performance of “Compared to What” with saxophonist Eddie Harris and trumpeter Benny Bailey—and his recordings later became source material for hip-hop artists.
Who was Les McCann?
Leslie Coleman “Les” McCann was an American pianist, singer and composer closely associated with soul jazz. His blues- and gospel-inflected approach made jazz feel direct and communal, helping him reach listeners well beyond a specialist audience. The Guardian’s January 3, 2024 obituary describes the popular appeal of his music and the breadth of his career: The Guardian’s obituary of Les McCann.
McCann recorded across a long career, including for Atlantic Records. Rhino Entertainment’s January 3, 2024 account says he released a dozen albums on the label between the late 1960s and mid-1970s and had more than 60 albums to his credit. Those are Rhino’s catalog figures, rather than a definitive discography count: Rhino Entertainment’s obituary.
What is Les McCann best known for?
The 1969 Montreux performance
McCann’s defining collaboration with saxophonist Eddie Harris and trumpeter Benny Bailey came at the 1969 Montreux Jazz Festival. Their live version of “Compared to What” appeared on Swiss Movement, an album credited to McCann and Harris. The performance combines McCann’s forceful piano and vocals with a charged, conversational ensemble sound.
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Written by Gene McDaniels, “Compared to What” is a protest song addressing war and injustice. Its political message, delivered with the energy of a live performance, helped make the recording a signature of McCann’s career. Rhino reports that the single sold more than one million copies and reached No. 35 on Billboard’s R&B chart. Rhino also reports that Swiss Movement reached No. 1 on Billboard’s jazz album chart, No. 2 on its R&B chart and No. 29 on the Billboard 200; these chart and sales figures are attributed to Rhino’s 2024 obituary, not independently verified here.
Helping Roberta Flack get heard
McCann also played a part in the early career of singer Roberta Flack. The Associated Press and Rhino report that he recommended her to Atlantic Records or helped arrange an audition. The accounts establish his role in bringing her to the label’s attention, though they describe the details differently: The Associated Press’s report.
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Which hip-hop artists sampled Les McCann?
McCann’s influence carried into hip-hop through recordings that later artists sampled. Rhino names The Notorious B.I.G., A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Slick Rick, Dr. Dre and Mobb Deep among the artists who drew on his work. Rhino executive Kevin Gore described McCann’s music as sampled by “hundreds” of hip-hop artists; that is his characterization, not an independently audited count.
A documented example is Mobb Deep’s “Right Back At You,” which the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame identifies as sampling McCann’s “Benjamin.” The institution also notes McCann’s experimentation with electric piano, clavinet and synthesizer, evidence of a musical palette that extended beyond acoustic piano: Kentucky Music Hall of Fame’s Les McCann profile.
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Where should you start listening?
Begin with Swiss Movement, especially the live “Compared to What.” It brings together McCann’s piano and vocals, Harris’s saxophone and Bailey’s trumpet in the performance most closely associated with his name. For a different angle on his work, explore later studio recordings, where he also used electric piano, clavinet and synthesizer. Apple Music’s artist page provides catalog and recording context: Les McCann on Apple Music.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When did Les McCann die, and what was reported about his death?
McCann died in Los Angeles on December 29, 2023, aged 88. The Associated Press reported that he had been hospitalized with pneumonia, citing his longtime manager. Pitchfork also reported pneumonia in its January 3, 2024 coverage; neither account should be read as access to a death certificate or medical record. Pitchfork’s report on McCann’s death.
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