Search - McCoy Tyner :: Jazz Profile: McCoy Tyner

Nice slice of pianist's life...

William E. Adams | Midland, Texas USA | 02/01/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a compilation of Tyner's work for the Blue Note label over a period of 22 years off and on. The earliest selection is from 1967, the freshest from '89. With 22 years to cover, and only eight tunes adding up to 50 minutes of music, the people who put this together had a tough job. Tyner made his reputation with John Coltrane in that giant's final years ((1960-67), but on these numbers he takes the lead. His fellow players include Elvin Jones on drums, Lee Morgan, trumpet, Bennie Maupin and Wayne Shorter, tenor saxes, Jackie McLean, alto sax, and John Scofield, guitar. It's fast and furious at times. The only widely known song is "Surrey With the Fringe on Top". He also does Monk's "I Mean You" but the other six are his own compositions. It's a good introduction to his post-Coltrane career, but if you really like his style and soul, you'll probably prefer CD reissues of albums he personally shaped to be heard as a whole."