(By Lance)
Steve T has, sadly, brought to my attention the breaking news that pianist McCoy Tyner died earlier today (March 6) aged 81.
No need to write his obituary - that is linked later - his pedigree is well known.
I heard McCoy Tyner live on two occasions. The first was at Newcastle City Hall back in November 1961 with the legendary Coltrane Quartet augmented by Eric Dolphy (Trane, Dolphy, Tyner, Workman, Jones). It should have been a Damascus moment for me but, back then, it was so far ahead of jazz as I knew it that I left totally bemused.
Fast forward to 2009 at Sage Gateshead (or 'The Sage' as it was known then and still is in most people's minds) and it was a whole different ballgame. Playing in a quartet with Joe Lovano on tenor, after an indifferent first set, they played a tremendous second set and all was forgiven.
I've since listened to the Coltrane albums many times and, over the years, realised just how great the concert, that I despised so much at the time, must have been!
I was so pleased to have heard Tyner again and to truly appreciate his genius.
Farewell to one of the greats - Rest In Peace.
Lance.
NY Times obituary.
2 comments :
No doubt, one of the biguns. I've only just started playing through the Heavyweight Champion and Complete Studio Impulse Recordings again. His short solo on My Favourite Things I rate amongst the most beautiful moments in all of music. I remember a time we were seriously skint and for some reason didn't get a Sage brochure. A 'friend' went through it on the phone and when he said McCoy Tyner Trio, my scepticism of piano trio won over and I decided against. At that time I wasn't much concerned with ticking boxes and wanted to have a good time at a gig. It was only later I found out it was plus a guest saxophone and I've only just found out it was Joe Lovano. Try to imagine my pain.
Thank you for posting the sad news of McCoy Tyner's passing. I'm listening to his "Passion Dance" album which I just had to dig out of my collection of LPs as I haven't played it for years.
I was at the City Hall concert of '61 and was alternately amazed and confused by some of the music heard that night. I remember well the extended My favourite things, the number of drumsticks broken by Elvin Jones, and McCoy Tyner's percussive playing. A long time ago and making more sense and clarity now than it did in my early years of jazz appreciation.
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