Search - McCoy Tyner :: Immortal Concerts: Beautiful Love

Tyner goes solo

Joe Pierre | Los Angeles, CA United States | 02/19/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This live, solo outing by Mccoy Tyner was recorded at the Warsaw Jazz Festival (aka Warsaw Jazz Jamboree) on October 27, 1991. The recording has been released on various labels and pressings (the one I own is by Fresh Sounds Records -- this one is put out by the Italian label Sarabandas), but each includes the same 12-song set clocking in at just over an hour's worth of music.



Tyner branched out on his own in the late 1960's, leaving Coltrane to foray further into his extended free jazz explorations with wife Alice replacing Tyner at piano. However, although his prodigious style is well suited to it, Tyner wouldn't record a solo album until the famous and excellent Coltrane tribute, Echoes of Friend, released in 1972. Throughout the 70's, Tyner typically fronted larger bands, not returning to solo concerts until a string of Blue Note records from 1989 and 1990 (Revelations, Things Ain't What They Used to Be (also containing some duets), and Soliloquy). Unfortunately, those solo dates tend towards the sedate and balladic, at least compared to typical Tyner, whose style is, in the tradition of Oscar Peterson, expansive and billowing with thundering left-hand chords and break-neck right-hand runs, flourishes, and trills.



And so, the Warsaw Concert is a welcome cap to those solo outings, because it is more energetic, emotional, and adventurous. This may have something to do with the set-list, which includes only two standards (Beautiful Love, Darn That Dream) while featuring six originals, two Coltrane tunes (Giant Steps, Naima), and two by Monk (Rhthym-A-Ning, Monk's Dream). In fact, the pacing of these tunes tends toward the similar and many of them are ballads at their core, with trademark Tyner embellishments. However, it's refreshing to hear Tyner briskly attack Giant Steps and Rhthym-A-Ning (he rarely seems to interpret Monk), play a blues-based tune (Bluesin' With Bob), offer up some full-bodied originals (Miss Bea, Lady From Caracas, Rio), and close out the set with the familiar Coltrane anthem, Naima. Tyner also introduces several of the numbers, giving this a nice live concert feel.



Tyner's ample talents are really showcased in the solo format, and it is nice to hear him take advantage of the space in this concert. This, along with Echoes of a Friend, are the Tyner solo dates to have.



The recording quality was suprisingly good, given a little known label (remember, I have the Fresh Sounds release) and the live recording -- the piano sounds deep and full bodied (though the live applause is muffled and faint)."

McCoy Tyner - Beautiful Love

C. J. Webber | rayleigh, essex United Kingdom | 08/13/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Based on Tyner's solo on "Giant Steps" alone, this is THE solo album for any jazz pianist.An incredible 2-fisted performance throughout, showing how Tyner developed from his work with Mile Davis and his own 'sheets of sound' would make Coltrane proud.His 1991 reharmonisation of ballads and blues alike is as contempoary as any you will hear today and his left-hand work is pure tuition fodder.He brings new and interesting dimensions to the two Monk songs, "Rhythm-n-ing" and "Monk's Dream", respecting the Monk tradition, but opening up alll sorts of possibilities for would-be Monkists.Terrific album."