Swiss Movement

Eddie Harris, Les McCann, Les Mccann & Eddie Harris | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 1, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Atlantic
• ASIN: B000002I5M
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #106,933 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Compared to What

2. Cold Duck Time

3. Kathleen's Theme

4. You Got It in Your Soulness

5. Generation Gap

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This memorable impromptu session arose at the 1969 Montreux festival when tenor saxophonist Eddie Harris and trumpeter Benny Bailey joined Les McCann's working trio. McCann's regular rhythm section of Leroy Vinnegar on bass and Donald Dean on drums provides rock-solid support for some strongly felt and entertaining music. Harris's light-toned but expressive horn shines on his own "Cold Duck Soup" and McCann's "Kathleen's Theme," while the whole band rocks on "You Got It in Your Soulness." McCann's elemental voice and piano gives new life to the soul classic "Compared to What," while the underrated Bailey, more frequently heard in mainstream jazz settings, brings a brassy soulfulness of his own to the proceedings. --Stuart Broomer

Product Description

Limited Edition Japanese pressing of this album comes housed in a miniature LP sleeve. Rhino. 2007. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
'Swiss Movement' is considered one of the great jazz records from the Atlantic vaults. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Still incredible, April 7, 2004

By 

Michael J Edelman (Huntington Woods, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Swiss Movement (Audio CD)

I first heard this disk when I was 15, and it knocked me out. The lead tune, "Compared to What" was the funky breakout, crossover hit that most people know, but to my mind the greatest tune on this album is Harris' "Kathleen's Tune". This is a bop tune with a catchy head that Harris works through in every possible variation, starting out with a simple diatonic restaement, and moving more and more outside until he's playing nothing *but* outside notes. It took my breath away when I first heard it, and still does.

The rest of the album may not his the same heights as "Kathleen's Tune" or "Compared to What" but it's still all great. Benny Bailey's solos make you wonder where he'd been hiding before this album came out (Sweden, as it turned out). "You Got It In Your Soulness" is another Les McCann gospel-influenced tune that makes you wnat to dance. And so on.

I've gone through three copies of this album over the years (LP, CD and now remastered CD), and played it for scores of jazz neophytes, most recently my 10 year old nephew- and he dug it. You will, too.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Compared To What" is Highlight of a Great Album, August 4, 2002

By 

Kevin Nieman "Writer / Provocateur" (Thousand Oaks, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Swiss Movement (Audio CD)

When I heard "Compared To What," I had to hear it again. It hooked me in from the moment the drums kick in with the steady ride cymbal at the beginning.

Some have made reference to the song's datedness, but I don't see it as a very dated song at all. Of course, Les sings about the Vietnam War (although he does not mention it by name,) and some may see that as dated, but if that were true, then any song that mentions current events is dated. Essentially, the listener must understand the times to understand the song. If one does not understand life during 1969, many of the song's references are either laughable or confusing. In fact, after one verse, McCann yells, "Sock it to me," one reference to a phrase used often on the NBC-TV comedy, "Laugh-In." One previous reviewer comented on the silliness of that phrase, but it's no different than hearing James Brown yell, "Hit Me!" Not only is it NOT corny, it's in keeping with the funky mood of the song.

"Compared To What" is worth the price of the CD alone, but each song afterward is great in its own right, including "Cold Duck Time," which Les McCann admits was given to the band by Eddie Harris that day. By the way the band plays it, you'd have never known that it wasn't a long standard on their song list.

This is a definite gem of an album.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Raw energy!, March 10, 2000

By 

Stephan Stuecklin "thduggie" (Basel, Switzerland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Swiss Movement (Audio CD)

Jazz at its live best, as it often happens in Montreux. Yes, there are imperfections, but no improv jam I've ever heard has the same bundled power as this, with two edgy, belting horns and some nifty piano work by the band leader. Even if you don't have a jazz predilection, chances are you'll like this record because the tunes are in uptempo binary rhythms.