Search - McCoy Tyner :: Mosaic Select - Tyner Mccoy

Classic Recordings Remastered and Compiled

directions | Space Time Foam | 01/02/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For starters, this is the cheapest way to obtain the music in these mostly out of print cd's and "Cosmos" is only available on way out of print double lp, so with the remastering if you are a fan of classic period McCoy Tyner or good jazz in general this should be a no brainer (though it should not be a limited edition, McCoy Tyner is one of the most essential jazz pianists around). As for the albums, each one is seperate but they all are top notch and have something to reccomend, though they are released in set order which confuses things, though I suppose makes sense. The long out of print "Expansions" a crucial recording in Tyner's discography with Wayne Shorter and Gary Bartz both Miles alumni at their free-est begins disc one. "Cosmos", released from studio sessions and long out of print on lp is a quieter affair with chamber orchestra backing up Tyner's playing. "Extensions" with the late Alice Coltrane on harp is more Afrocentric as is "Asante", a predictor Tyner's masterpiece "Sahara" (in print and not included here as it is from a later period). By this time, Tyner had escaped the shadow of his mentor Coltrane and had come onto his own, marturing his style into a combination of free bop, Afrocentric world jazz and avant piano style, somewhere between Andrew Hill and Cecil Taylor. Though I suppose these albums will make it to print again, it will be a while, so there is no reason not to buy this now for a spotlight on a crucial period in jazz history from an artist who still is relevant both live and in the studio."