At the age of 72, McCoy Tyner is not only the single living survivor from the epoch-shaking John Coltrane Quartet, he’s an institution in modern jazz. Beginning in 1960, he joined with Coltrane, when the famous group recorded a quartet of records for Atlantic before moving to Impulse, the label the Coltrane Quartet brought to notoriety. Tyner’s use of chords and space created new colors and shadings in jazz; his phenomenal right-hand runs are some of the most dramatic and brilliant moments on record. In ’62 Tyner himself signed with Impulse, recording a half-dozen titles as a leader. Of particular note here is “McCoy Tyner Plays Ellington,” recorded by the trio McCoy, Elvin Jones (drums) and Jimmy Garrison (bass) from the Quartet.
After the Train
Tyner left the Coltrane Quartet in 1965, shortly after the historic “A Love Supreme” album, as did Elvin Jones; Coltrane was moving in a different direction. Following Coltrane’s death in ’67, Tyner signed with Blue Note, where he recorded another half-dozen records, the first of which, “The Real McCoy,” still stands apart. Along with Elvin Jones, Miles Davis alumni Ron Carter on bass, and one of the heirs to the Coltrane throne, tenor sax player Joe Henderson, Tyner showcases some of his most lasting, powerful compositions.
Side one begins with Elvin Jones crashing in to introduce the whirling, frenetic “Passion Dance,” a piece Tyner put to good use later when he re-recorded it with a big band. The players sound as if they’re possessed, trapped in space, desperately trying to escape the chordal confines. Henderson’s full tone and commanding presence brings Coltrane to mind; the resulting sound is his alone. One of the giants of post bop saxophone, Henderson’s timbre and solo constructions, once heard, are unforgettable.
“Contemplation” strolls in with a mournful, deliberate tempo before Henderson delivers the poignant melody in bright soulful cries. Moving at glacier speed, this beautiful song showcases the tone and musicality of the group; McCoy’s easy, yet dead serious playing lays bare a soul committed to spirituality. A sharp corner is turned with “Four By Five,” a quirky modal romp with a sense of humor. Even through the changes in structure and tempo, the sound is consistent with the rest of the record, a bright golden hue lights the whole session.
The mood drops back again with the heartbreaking “Search For Peace.” Again Henderson states the theme over Tyner’s burnished colors; a truly beautiful tune. No other rhythm section has ever played as expressively at slow tempos; Elvin’s drums oddly gain momentum at snail speed, suspended just behind the beat, creating implied rhythms.
“The Real McCoy,” wraps up with the ebullient “Blues On The Corner,” a happy stroll through the old neighborhood. The opening melody statement with Tyner and Henderson playing in tandem is revelatory – even the blues sound new, bathing in the golden rays of Tyner’s mood.
No Need To Beware Of Imitations
In the Blue Note sessions to follow, McCoy Tyner would become yet more adventurous, changing line-ups and charting new territory with each outing. In 1972 he moved over to Prestige Records where for the next decade he would record nearly twenty sessions, varying widely in structure and personnel. In ’82 Tyner became a free agent, recording another three dozen albums as a leader for various labels in a wide variety of settings. Still, on all of these, and the multitude of sessions he recorded as a sideman, his sound is instantly recognizable, the altered chords, clusters, and single-note runs make up a vocabulary of his own. Tyner seems determined to mine every possible nuance and utility from his compositions; several years ago he recorded “Guitar,” a set list of his compositions featuring different guitarists of the modern era from Bill Frisell and Marc Ribot to young superstar Derek Trucks.
From solo to trio to the orchestral setting, McCoy Tyner’s music is a world unto itself. Like most of the truly great artists of every genre, his fingerprint is unmistakably apparent throughout his prolific career; his musical genius shines at its brightest in the amazing, authentic, “The Real McCoy.”
Scott Cramer - Scott lives in Chicago and is an insufferable know-it-all on certain topics. He writes fiction (primarily short stories) much of which ...
