js Les McCann kicked off his career in the early 60s with a RnB/gospel rooted jazz style that became known as soul jazz.. When the 70s hit, McCann like many others veered off into the world of electronics and fusion. In 1971 his “Invitation to Openess” successfully fused world beat, psychedelia and RnB creating a representative masterpiece for that time period. In 1972 McCann took the trip with the synthesizer even further and recorded “Layers”, a strange album that features him playing layers of analog keyboards and synthesizers backed by a superb lounge/funk rhythm section. To the serious jazz fan this album probably seems like fluff, but to the collector of proto acid jazz and exotica, this album is a mother lode.

This is acid jazz before there was such a term. A lot of these cuts could be played along side anything that came out since the mid-90s and they would fit right in. If you are a fan of early analog synthesizer music, you will find a lot to enjoy on here. McCann layers the Arp Odyssey and coaxes great sounds out of it, sometimes favoring very natural flutes and wah wah trumpets. A lot of the cuts on here are fairly mellow in that exotica/lounge sort of way, but some others, such as “The Dunbar High School Marching Band” feature energetic funky rhythms and fierce dissonant keyboard solos from McCann. This album is one-of-a-kind, and is highly recommended for people who seek that sort of thing.