McCoy Tyner

McCoy Tyner – McCoy Tyner with Stanley Clarke and Al Foster (2000)
DSF Stereo DSD64/2.82MHz  | Time – 01:05:36 minutes | 2,59 GB | Genre: Jazz
Source: ISO SACD | ©  Telarc

One of the musical highlights of the new millennium is already here: McCoy Tyner with Stanley Clarke and Al Foster, the follow-up to the legendary pianist’s critically-acclaimed Telarc debut, McCoy Tyner and the Latin All-Stars. On this new release, McCoy Tyner explores the art of the trio, with a dynamic set of 11 tracks that features new tunes from Tyner and Clarke.

McCoy Tyner with Stanley Clarke and Al Foster is a clear indication that Tyner’s interests lie firmly in the future, and in his own compositions. In addition to two takes of “I Want to Tell You ‘Bout That” (the first with Clarke on electric bass, the next on acoustic), other Tyner compositions include “Trane-like,” “Once Upon A Time,” “Goin’ ‘Way Blues,” “Carriba” and “Memories.” Tyner’s unique and blazing interpretations of standards are apparent in his renditions of “Never Let Me Go” and “Will You Still Be Mine.” Another highlight is Clarke’s own “In the Tradition Of.”

McCoy Tyner is assured of a major position in any jazz history of the 20th century—a versatile composer, arranger and leader whose distinctive sound looms over entire generations. He was born in Philadelphia in 1938 when Bud Powell, Benny Golson (and of course, John Coltrane) and many others were in the neighborhood. And Tyner is the only jazz giant to have honed his craft in, of all places, his mother’s beauty parlor in West Philadelphia—jamming among the hair dryers and curling irons.

Stanley Clarke (born in 1951) is also from Philly, and on this project he plays mostly acoustic bass. Well known for his work with Return to Forever and as a trailblazing solo artist, Clarke continues to revolutionize his instrument. A first-generation fusion player who is constantly shifting directions, this project offers a rare opportunity to hear his more straight-ahead playing.

McCoy Tyner with Stanley Clarke and Al Foster is a brilliant second installment of Tyner’s work on Telarc. Both discs make it clear that the undeniable talents of McCoy Tyner continue growing greater with time.

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McCoy Tyner – Sahara (1972) [MFSL 2006]
PS3 Rip | SACD ISO | DSD64 2.0 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 47:45 minutes | Scans included | 1,92 GB
or FLAC(converted with foobar2000 to tracks) 24bit/88,2 kHz | Full Scans included | 1,0 GB
Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab # UDSACD 2029

After the death of John Coltrane, his longtime pianist McCoy Tyner was in something of a musical quandary. Keeping up with his mentor through the incredible explorations of the early ’60s, he seemed to have some difficulty navigating the even further out territories explored in the two or three years before Coltrane’s death in 1967. His subsequent albums as a leader were solid, enjoyable efforts but seemed oddly retrograde, as though he needed time to settle back and re-digest the information handed down to him. With Sahara, Tyner found the precise perfect “middle ground” on which to stand, more structured than late Coltrane, but exploding with a ferocity and freedom of sound that made it simply one of the greatest jazz recordings of the decade. None of the other members of his quartet ever sounded so inspired, so liberated as they do here. Sonny Fortune threatens to tear the roof off the joint on more than one occasion, Calvin Hill is more than rock-solid on bass, his roots arcing deeply into the earth, and as for Alphonse Mouzon, well, no one familiar with his later vapid meanderings in fusion would begin to recognize him here, so incendiary is his playing. And Tyner develops so much pure energy, channeled with such pinpoint precision, that one worries about the physical stability of any piano under such an assault. From the extraordinarily intense “Ebony Queen” through the ruminative solo “A Prayer for My Family, the equally intense “Rebirth,” and the concluding, side-long title track, there’s not a misstep to be heard. “Sahara,” over the course of its 23 minutes, covers vast ground, echoing the majesty and misery of the geographical area with percussion and flute interludes to some of Tyner’s very best playing on record. Even something that could have resulted in a mere exercise in exotica, his koto performance on “Valley of Life,” exudes both charm and commitment to the form. Tyner would go on to create several fine albums in the mid-’70s, but never again would he scale quite these heights. Sahara is an astonishingly good record and belongs in every jazz fan’s collection.

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McCoy Tyner – Nights Of Ballads & Blues (1963) [APO Remaster 2011]
PS3 Rip | SACD ISO | DSD64 Stereo > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 38:46 minutes | Scans included | 1,61 GB
or FLAC 2.0 Stereo (converted with foobar2000 to tracks) 24bit/88,2 kHz | Scans included | 813 MB

As the title implies, this McCoy Tyner release is a low-key, after-hours affair. Far removed from the intensity of work with then-boss John Coltrane, Tyner stretches out on a fine mix of standards and bebop classics. The pianist, of course, always had his own fleet and rich way with ballads, in spite of the galvanizing marathon solos he became known for on live dates and his later experimental recordings with Coltrane. His ballad style is even touched with a bit of sentimentality, which thankfully is kept in check by a bevy of tasteful lines. Backed by the topnotch rhythm tandem of bassist Steve Davis and drummer Lex Humphries, Tyner finds the room to develop classic statements on highlights like Monk’s “‘Round Midnight,” Ellington and Strayhorn’s “Satin Doll,” and Parker’s “Star Eyes.” On more easeful tracks like “For Heaven’s Sake,” Tyner utilizes his block chord approach to meditative and romantic effect. Rounded out by solid blues sides like “Blue Monk” and Tyner’s own “Groove Waltz,” Nights of Ballads and Blues qualifies as one of the pianist’s most enjoyable early discs.

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McCoy Tyner – New York Reunion (1991) [Reissue 2007]
PS3 Rip | SACD ISO | DST64 2.0 & 5.0 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 74:17 minutes | Scans included | 3,24 GB
or FLAC 2.0 Stereo (converted with foobar2000 to tracks) 24bit/88,2 kHz | Scans included | 1,4 GB

Pianist McCoy Tyner and tenor-saxophonist Joe Henderson had not recorded together in over two decades when they finally met up for this Chesky Records’ album. With strong assistance from bassist Ron Carter and drummer Al Foster, Tyner and Henderson make for a perfect team on four originals by group members (including the tenor’s classic “Recorda Me”) and four superior standards. The advanced hard bop music is as rewarding as one would expect.

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McCoy Tyner – McCoy Tyner with Stanley Clarke and Al Foster (2000)
PS3 Rip | SACD ISO | DSD64 2.0 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | Time – 01:05:36 minutes | 2,65 GB | Genre: Jazz | ©  Telarc

One of the musical highlights of the new millennium is already here: McCoy Tyner with Stanley Clarke and Al Foster, the follow-up to the legendary pianist’s critically-acclaimed Telarc debut, McCoy Tyner and the Latin All-Stars. On this new release, McCoy Tyner explores the art of the trio, with a dynamic set of 11 tracks that features new tunes from Tyner and Clarke.

McCoy Tyner with Stanley Clarke and Al Foster is a clear indication that Tyner’s interests lie firmly in the future, and in his own compositions. In addition to two takes of “I Want to Tell You ‘Bout That” (the first with Clarke on electric bass, the next on acoustic), other Tyner compositions include “Trane-like,” “Once Upon A Time,” “Goin’ ‘Way Blues,” “Carriba” and “Memories.” Tyner’s unique and blazing interpretations of standards are apparent in his renditions of “Never Let Me Go” and “Will You Still Be Mine.” Another highlight is Clarke’s own “In the Tradition Of.”

McCoy Tyner is assured of a major position in any jazz history of the 20th century—a versatile composer, arranger and leader whose distinctive sound looms over entire generations. He was born in Philadelphia in 1938 when Bud Powell, Benny Golson (and of course, John Coltrane) and many others were in the neighborhood. And Tyner is the only jazz giant to have honed his craft in, of all places, his mother’s beauty parlor in West Philadelphia—jamming among the hair dryers and curling irons.
Stanley Clarke (born in 1951) is also from Philly, and on this project he plays mostly acoustic bass. Well known for his work with Return to Forever and as a trailblazing solo artist, Clarke continues to revolutionize his instrument. A first-generation fusion player who is constantly shifting directions, this project offers a rare opportunity to hear his more straight-ahead playing.
McCoy Tyner with Stanley Clarke and Al Foster is a brilliant second installment of Tyner’s work on Telarc. Both discs make it clear that the undeniable talents of McCoy Tyner continue growing greater with time.

(more…)

Read more

McCoy Tyner – Illuminations (2004/2012)
FLAC (tracks) 24-bit/176,4 kHz | Time – 57:09 minutes | 1,83 GB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Master, Official Digital Download – Source: HDTracks | @ Telarc

Illuminations finds the iconic pianist, McCoy Tyner, leading a star-studded affair that features trumpeter Terence Blanchard, bassist Christian McBride, saxophonist Gary Bartz and drummer Lewis Nash. The eclectic album features compositions written by Tyner, stunning covers and works by fellow bandmates. Included on the album are the blistering Latin-inspired “Angelina,” the joyous “New Orleans Stomp,” and Blachard’s energetic “Blessings”. The album would win the GRAMMY Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Album. (more…)

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