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Layers

Les McCann Format: Audio CD
4.6 out of 5 stars 17 customer reviews
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$14.42 & FREE Shipping on orders over $49. Details Only 4 left in stock. Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.

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  • Sample this album Artist (Sample)
1
30
Sometimes I Cry
5:22
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2
30
Let's Gather
1:13
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3
30
Anticipation
0:52
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4
30
Dunbar High School Marching Band
6:06
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5
30
Soaring Part 1
5:56
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6
30
Harlem Buck Dance Strut
5:55
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7
30
Interlude
0:35
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8
30
Before I Rest
3:43
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9
30
Let's Play
4:26
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10
30
It Never Stopped In My Home Town
1:54
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11
30
Soaring Part 2
8:02
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Product Details

  • Audio CD (March 11, 2011)
  • Number of Discs: 1
  • Label: Edge Got530
  • ASIN: B00006J9O2
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #251,231 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsLayers Of Brilliance!
By Andre' S Grindle on October 1, 2003
Format: Audio CD
You know I wouldn't be at all surprised if Stevie Wonder was
listening to Les McCann's "Layers" album HEAVILY when he recorded his mid 70's triumphs because the electric piano
sounds and textured melodies on this album bare the stamp of no one else-the overall record ranking in artistic influence right up there with Wonder's,Gaye's and Isaac Haye's recent work.But for historical note Les McCan did it first and very uniquely.First of all McCann literally "layered" moogs,clavinet's
,the electric piano and varrious synthesizers to create this
unique mastersrtoke of electronic funk-paving the way not only for the synthesizer onslaught to come but to every artist to come.Nevertheless there is a very abscract feel to the suite even if it's very accessible-the melodies drip and drip like
a leaky faucet until they sink into the memory.Listing any
particular highlites are pointless-every track is excellent o it's on and are trancendant as a whole;remarkable!
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5.0 out of 5 starsBREAKTHROUGH SOUL JAZZ FUSION SYNTHETHIC CD
By L. S. Slaughter on August 26, 1999
Format: Audio CD
LAYERS was radical when it came out in 1974. Here was a black jazz figure who had gone totally synthethic (except for drums) alongside Herbie Hancock. The result doesn't hold up as well as the funk-driven "Headhunters" or its followup "Thrust", but McCann still offers an interesting experiment: the synth here is, indeed, soulful. My only complaint is that its tone suffers from a sameness throughout, but some of the tunes are wistful and aching ("Sometimes I Cry", "Soaring") and "Harlem..." gets some funk going. The percussion section is interesting, and chances are parts of this will be sampled heavily by the Cannibal Generation that followed. Atlantic would do better to release "Invitation to Openness" on CD, which was LAYERS' predecessor in 1972 on which McCann did some incredible far-eastern electric piano tinkling and the compositions were abstract and haunting ("Beaux J. Poo Boo").
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5.0 out of 5 starsI Love It!
By Olukayode Balogun on May 26, 2007
Format: Audio CD
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)
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4.0 out of 5 starsA deeply personal side of McCann - an overlooked gem.
By A Customer on September 23, 1998
Format: Audio CD
When "Layers" first appeared in the early 70's, it was something of an oddity to the jazz world. Not only did McCann set aside the traditional piano for a synthesizer, but he also performed and recorded all the parts. The multiple tracks were then mixed together to create "layers" of sound. Hence, the name for the album.
"Layers" is a concept album in the truest sense. The "songs" tend to drift seamlessly from one to another. The music is constantly shifting and transforming as McCann explores different ideas and emotions. From the searching and questioning "Sometimes I Cry" to the swaggering "The Dunbar High School Marching Band" to the cautious innocent optimism of "Soaring", everything works.
In casual listening, "Layers" might be dismissed as simply McCann experimenting with electronic music. However, alone, in the dark, late at night, the listener begins to understand that "Layers" is a actually a private and intimate conversation. McCann is not only revealing himself, but through his utter transparency, the listener shares in the experience, understanding the same fears, disappointments, joy and hope. This is deeply personal music. You may never meet Les McCann, but you will certainly "know" him after listening to this album.
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4.0 out of 5 starslayered listen
By Donald E. Gilliland on May 7, 2012
Format: Audio CD Verified Purchase
I'm not a musician but I think the comparisons to McCann's electric piano style and that of Stevie Wonder in the mid-70s are quite accurate. Some of these tunes do invoke a similar mood and style. These compositions don't jump out at you, but seep into your brain and grow and grow until they become familiar. Layers indeed! I love albums like this that fuse jazz and soul, creating a heady musical stew. Sometimes they are successful and sometimes a bit bland, but this album by Les McCann was one of the success stories.
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5.0 out of 5 starslayers of goodness
By Bryan on January 7, 2015
Format: Audio CD
This is my first experience with Les McCann. I'm enjoying Layers tremendously! The synthesizers are the most prominent instrument by far. I'm not surprised either- synths were quite the selection in the 70's. Not just jazz but many genres of rock were using them in some form or another such as progressive rock, hard rock and even pop/rock. On Layers they work beautifully and even stunningly sometimes and recall classic early to mid 70's jazz works of the Weather Report and Return to Forever.

"Soaring (At Dawn)" is pure beauty. Based around a slow-moving rhythm and loads of softly played synths, the song simply breathes imagery of the great outdoors. To jump around a bit, "Sometimes I Cry" is another memorable song. With the same slow-paced approach and atmosphere, it's equally stunning. This is another mood piece that mid 70's Weather Report would go on to specialize in the way this kind of music accurately captures the feeling of floating down a river at nighttime without a care in the world. I wouldn't say this song makes me feel like crying either (unlike say, this long dreaded cold boring winter I'm going through, hehe).

"The Harlem Buck Dance Strut" changes things a bit. There's wild outdoor-like instrumentation taking place in the background and a Deep Purple-resembling keyboard (or fuzzed guitar) riff being played over a funky rhythm. I dig this! Afterwards a synth jams away for the remainder of the tune while the funky pace remains. It's quite the melodic piece too. "The Dunbar High School Marching Band" interestingly presents another Machine Head-era Deep Purple similarity in the very beginning before shifting in a different funkier direction.Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

This would go with me on a desert island.

Published 13 days ago by IMARA HYMAN
5.0 out of 5 starsInventors of New Age?

A must have!
I used to meditate to this album. Lovely textures.

Published 16 months ago by Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 starsLoved it, had been looking for this cd for 5 yrs

Very pleased. Liked it, liked it, liked it; don't like having to write an essay on something I paid for as an explaination. Read more

Published on August 16, 2013 by Wendell Jones
5.0 out of 5 starsgreat!!

classic jazz!! i don't need 18 words to say it!! so, blah, blah, blah, blah! can you spell great music is coming so don't waste my time!

Published on April 30, 2013 by cheryl young
5.0 out of 5 starsA Groundbreaking Album

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... Read more

Published on August 19, 2009 by J. Merritt
5.0 out of 5 starssankidude

how awesome is this album? someone gave me a whole bunch of music and it was duly put on my ipod...playing on shuffle one intense night, he came on and blew our world away, have... Read more

Published on April 8, 2009 by hemant chaturvedi
4.0 out of 5 starsAwesome jazz

This is great creative jazz. I have listened to this album for years and it is so outstanding that it beats most of the stuff out there now (except for Herbie Hancock or Ramsey... Read more

Published on April 26, 2008 by Whitney J. Jonas
5.0 out of 5 starsLayers Of Imagination

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... Read more

Published on March 23, 2008 by Andre S. Grindle
5.0 out of 5 starsStill beautiful after all the years

People have forgotten that Layers was early synththesizer/fusion and everyone was playing with all the new toys. Some efforts just didn't pan out. This one did. Read more

Published on May 25, 2007 by Phyllis Herring
3.0 out of 5 stars3.5 stars, actually

Like many veteran jazz artists, McCann ventured into soulful pop and funk sounds during the early '70s. Read more

Published on March 27, 2007 by pb

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