Jazz pianist and vocalist Les McCann was an early progenitor of the bluesy, crowd-pleasing style that came to be known as soul jazz. Best remembered for his 1967 protest song “Compared to What,” McCann released more than 50 albums over his lifetime – and much of his music lives on through classic hip-hop songs that sampled his work. He brought a raw, emotional, gospel-infused energy to his art that set him apart.

The “Jazz Profiles” shows – nearly 200 of them – are part of the Tim Owens Jazz & Broadcast Collection at the University of North Texas Music Library. In a partnership with Tim and UNTML, we’ve picked a handful of noteworthy shows to share with you. You can find more “Jazz Profiles” shows at the UNT Music Library’s Jazz Syndicate (www.library.unt.edu/jazzsyndicate), and learn more about 32 Bar Blues' clothing collection and commitment to the arts at 32barblues.com