Here's a smoking cut from Les McCann & Eddie Harris' classic 1969 album Swiss Movement. Recorded live at The Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland the band played at a the top of their game, despite being unrehearsed for the gig. "I didn't know any of the tunes, and there was no rehearsal. They had to call out the changes for me." said Benny Bailey. Eddie Harris was also unprepared and said this: "I told Les just to play his normal stuff with the Trio, and I would look over his shoulder to check the chords- because I used to be a piano player." This track, "Compared to What" spoke out against the Vietnam War, and became an anthem of sorts among young black college students.


COMPARED TO WHAT