 |  | McCoy's classic Blue Note date |  |
This was pianist McCoy Tyner's first session for Blue Note after the passing of John Coltrane and it turned out to be a classic. Just about every one of the tunes on this disc are now jazz standards like "Passion Dance", "Search for Peace", "Contemplation" and "Blues on the Corner". McCoy is backed up by his Coltrane teammate, Elvin Jones and bassist Ron Carter. Joe Henderson provided a fine foil for Tyner so much so that they create an empathy akin to what McCoy had with 'Trane. The same group would reunite for another session on the Telarc label years later but unfortunately lightening doesn't strike twice. This date belongs to other classic studio sessions like "Everybody Digs Bill Evans", "Now He Sings, Now He Sobs", "Giant Steps" and "Newk's Time" where everything falls perfectly in place. Recommended for all McCoy fans and jazz progressives!! One more thing try and get the original issue of this since the RVG version sounds thin and offers very little separation!!
September 26, 2008| | | Coltrane without the Coltrane | |
Let me start at the end: I love this CD and I think every jazz enthusiast would enjoy it. The long and short of it is, you've got the same band that made John Coltrane famous by backing him for many, many years, helping him to build a reputation that survives to this day, and for the members of this band, giving them an opportunity to stretch out and grow after the Coltrane band called it quits. This CD is one of the fruits of that relationship. Tyner keeps the quartet together, with the more-than-respectable Joe Henderson taking over the sax. What you end up with is some solid jazz that, while it lacks the Coltrane punch, also lacks the Coltrane esoterica and mindless wanderings he became known for at the advent of the avant-garde era. For me, this is better, because, as much as I like Coltrane, I like Tyner more and I appreciate that McCoy has more of an opportunity to shine and show what he is really made of. Ron Carter and Elvin Jones lend their usual steady, relentless, swinging rhythm to the five tracks, including the classic standards Passion Dance and Four by Five. And as I've already said, Henderson does a more than admirable job with the sax, bopping right along and sizzling when it's his turn to sizzle. So, this CD is a high recommendation for anyone who likes Tyner, Coltrane, jazz piano, or classic quartet jazz. Go for it, you won't regret it!
June 28, 2008I've got three names for you: McCoy Tyner, Elvin Jones, and Ron Carter. Just going by those names alone, you already know this is required listening, especially if you're a fan of early 60's Coltrane. What we have here is the two members of Coltrane's quartet that did not continue into his avant-garde reordings - McCoy Tyner and Elvin Jones. They were replaced by Alice Coltrane and Rashied Ali, respectively. Add Ron Carter and Joe Henderson on tenor sax, and we have some of the most technical modal acoustic jazz this side of "Giant Steps".
While Henderson is a few giant steps below Trane on the talent-scale (who isn't?), this is a McCoy Tyner record, and the main focus is his signature piano playing, circa "Live at Birdland". Carter and Jones are on fire throughout polyrhythmic barn-burners like "Passion Dance" and "Four By Five". The music was by no means 'ground-breaking' in the context of the time in which it was recorded. On the other hand, it's 60's modal jazz at its best. Tyner and the boys also show their versatility in being able to lay back on smoother tracks like "Search For Peace" and "Contemplation". I also prefer Ron Carter to Jimmy Garrison and find him to be a much more observant match for Jones's wild drum skills. This is definitely a must-have for Coltrane fans.
This was the first of a handful of Blue Note recordings by Tyner, but I consider this to be his finest hour. Another impressive release during the same time period was 1970's "Extensions", also on Blue Note, featuring Tyner, Alice Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, Gary Bartz (alto sax), Ron Carter, and Elvin Jones.
July 27, 2007| | | A must-have 60's blue note! | |
Like Coltrane's rhythm section with Joe Henderson! But Ron Carter on bass gives it some different directions. Great playing, great tunes, great Van Gelder sound - it doesn't get better than this.
January 7, 2007 A rambling ride! Endlessly interesting. Whether fully churned or lazily meandering these players are top notch explorers. A charming work. Get it!
December 9, 2006More reviews at Amazon.com ...
