Today, Joe Alterman & Mocean Worker share "Burnin' Coal," a cover of legendary jazz pianist Les McCann's classic from his 1969 album Much Les. It's the third single released in advance of Alterman and Mocean Worker, aka Adam Dorn's, forthcoming collection, Keep The Line Open, due September 26 on MOWO! Inc. Its nine tracks celebrate the sound and spirit of McCann and the '60s soul jazz era, evoking the funky and feel-good vibe of a late-night jazz club that defined the music, as well as honoring McCann's influence on Dorn and Alterman, who knew him as a mentor, collaborator, and close friend.
"When Joe and I decided to make this album, I knew we had to do one cover, and that was going to be 'Burnin' Coal,'" recounts Dorn. "It's such a triumphant Les McCann track, with a killer bass line, super funky piano playing, and infectious rhythm. It's like you kind of can't miss. So while the idea for the album was to take inspiration from Les and his era to write our own material, this was the one no-brainer cover to directly pay tribute to him."
Alterman met McCann, who was already one of his heroes, when opening for him at the Blue Note in New York City. In the middle of his soundcheck, McCann, then confined to a wheelchair, rolled up to the stage and simply said to Alterman, 'Play me some blues, boy.' Alterman played for a few minutes and was then rewarded with a single word from McCann: 'Amen.' That moment marked the beginning of a deep and lasting bond where they'd speak on the phone every day and would eventually co-write the song 'Don't Forget To Love Yourself.' Dorn met McCann through his father, the Grammy Award-winning producer Joel Dorn, who produced several McCann recordings, including the track 'Burnin' Coal.' Through that relationship the younger Dorn became lifelong friends with McCann and would ultimately play bass with him, as well as work on several McCann reissue and live album releases.
It was ultimately McCann's passing that brought Dorn and Alterman together. They had both become aware of each other through their individual friendships with McCann who would mention each of the artists in his conversations with the other. Following his death, they'd finally meet and organically the idea of making a record of original material inspired by McCann was hatched. Dorn began writing sections of music, creating beats and rhythmic ideas that he'd send to Alterman over which he'd improvise. Dorn would then take those parts and shape them into songs.
"It’s all constructed to sound organic, but if you saw the sessions, they look like a Jackson Pollock painting," recounts Dorn. "It’s like someone who knows how to work with samplers that’s actually a jazz musician. Joe would solo over little ideas and I’d make big arrangements out of them."
Alterman adds: "I'd send Adam four or five solos and he’d piece together the catchy parts to make it what you hear."
The result is an album that is immensely funky ("Gimme Some Skin"), with nods to Latin grooves ("Moses Gonzalez"), and always heavy on the backbeat ("I Love It!, I Love It!, I Love It!"). There are times on Keep The Line Open where the listener will feel as though they are being taken to church ("Yay Yay Yay"), and at other times being taken on a trip to Haight-Asbury in the '60s ("Circus Going Backwards"), and yet simultaneously the music feels modern and of the moment ("Lemme Tell You Something"). Throughout there is Les, commenting on the proceedings with his inimitable wit, humor, and loving nature, making it all seem like it is being played just as he'd imagined. The limited-edition, 180-gram orange vinyl also includes a 10-page insert with extensive liner notes by Alterman, Dorn and Michael Smith, author of In with the In Crowd: Popular Jazz in 1960s Black America, alongside rare and previously unpublished photos of McCann by Sharon Josepho.
While Les McCann is the driving force, the entire spirit of his era, from Ramsey Lewis to Ahmad Jamal, Eddie Harris to Cannonball Adderley, lives in the music. It's this inspiration that guides Mocean Worker and Joe Alterman through each of the nine tracks. Keep The Line Open is a musical celebration that, like Les McCann himself, makes you feel alive and happy and ready to party.
Keep The Line Open is out September 26 on 180-gram, Orange Vinyl, CD and Digital formats. Pre-order available here.
