Plays John Coltrane - Live at The Village Vanguard [Live]

Plays John Coltrane - Live at The Village Vanguard [Live]

ASIN: B00005NY2T

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
McCoy Tyner has paid tribute on record to his former boss John Coltrane several times before, notably on the 1972 solo effort, Echoes of a Friend. But he is a different pianist now than he was then. Once a player of volcanic force and eddying intellect, Tyner has become a more elegant, restrained stylist. Recorded at New York's Village Vanguard on what would have been Coltrane's 71st birthday, and released to commemorate the saxophone legend's 75th, McCoy Tyner Plays John Coltrane could hardly be more even-tempered. Working outside his standing trio--the bassist is George Mraz, the drummer Al Foster--Tyner brings the same lilting delicacy to "Afro Blue" that he brings to the classic ballad "Naima." That isn't to say he lacks intensity in returning to the Trane songbook, which is also represented by the title track from "Crescent," "Moment's Notice," and the infrequently heard "Mr. Day" (from Coltrane Plays the Blues). With his gleaming note clusters, flowing lyricism, and spiritual weight, he makes it clear that the songs and their original singer still mean a lot to him--just as Tyner still means a lot to anyone who cares about the modern jazz piano. --Lloyd Sachs

Plays John Coltrane - Live at The Village Vanguard,McCoy Tyner,Universal,Jazz,Jazz Music,Mainstream Jazz,Pop,Post-Bop,United States of America

Average customer rating:

McCoy Tyner-the most overrated jazz pianist

Deserves 10 stars

A Truly Rewarding Set

Good, just shy of great

McCoy Tyner's Best?!

Plays John Coltrane - Live at The Village Vanguard
McCoy Tyner
Manufacturer: Umvd Labels
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music
General | Jazz | Styles | Music
Modern Postbebop | Jazz | Styles | Music
Modern Postbebop | Live Albums | Jazz | Styles | Music
General | Live Albums | Jazz | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Echoes of a Friend

The Real McCoy

Time for Tyner

Testifyin'!: Live at the Village Vanguard

Illuminations

ASIN: B00005NY2T
Release Date: 2001-10-16

Tracks:

Naima
Moment's notice
Crescent
After The Rain
Afro-Blue
I Want To Talk To You
Mr. Day

Amazon.com

McCoy Tyner has paid tribute on record to his former boss John Coltrane several times before, notably on the 1972 solo effort, Echoes of a Friend. But he is a different pianist now than he was then. Once a player of volcanic force and eddying intellect, Tyner has become a more elegant, restrained stylist. Recorded at New York's Village Vanguard on what would have been Coltrane's 71st birthday, and released to commemorate the saxophone legend's 75th, McCoy Tyner Plays John Coltrane could hardly be more even-tempered. Working outside his standing trio--the bassist is George Mraz, the drummer Al Foster--Tyner brings the same lilting delicacy to "Afro Blue" that he brings to the classic ballad "Naima." That isn't to say he lacks intensity in returning to the Trane songbook, which is also represented by the title track from "Crescent," "Moment's Notice," and the infrequently heard "Mr. Day" (from Coltrane Plays the Blues). With his gleaming note clusters, flowing lyricism, and spiritual weight, he makes it clear that the songs and their original singer still mean a lot to him--just as Tyner still means a lot to anyone who cares about the modern jazz piano. --Lloyd Sachs

Customer Reviews:

McCoy Tyner-the most overrated jazz pianist .......2006-02-13

Among all my Jazz-CD's - and there are many of them - this is by far the worst and disappointing one. And yet it is quite revealing. Many Jazz fans and critical reviewers celebrate Tyner as the best Jazz pianist alive. Although I have a huge respect for the musical quality of most Jazz, this shows me that the classic listeners and reviewers are musically just more educated and sophisticated than those in Jazz. Yes, there might be no Jazz pianist in history which has been more virtous than Tyner, and none which is technically better.

But as any classical educated piano professor will tell you, virtuosity makes no good pianist. And thats totally the case for Tyner. If I listen to his recordings, its always the same - huge accord clusterings, incredible fast playing, but no feel for the music, no elegance whatsoever and no interesting development or experimenting. His solos are really boring.

Just listen to Naima, one of the greatest pieces in Jazz. Start with the original Coltrane recording, the wonderful piano in it (NOT Tyner!), the feel for the music. Then listen to Breckers solo on the 2003 Directions in Music recording, playing an incredible interpretation of it, and then go to Tyners interpretation. Imagine how Bill Evans would play it. Then you have to stop this CD after 2 minutes. Its just terrible. Large parts he plays in fortissimo, with his usual style. I can't believe how bad it is. The same is true for Crescent and all the other pieces.

Or listen to "After the rain". That is pure pop-kitsch at worst, with accords and harmonics I would expect on a MTV-music award show, but not on a Jazz-CD. Even Norah Jones is pure experimentation against it!

The question then remains: Why was he part of one of the greatest Jazz-quartets? I went back to all Coltrane CD's including him. I can only say he was at the right place at the right time. His playing really does fit to Coltrane, all the fury, the virtuosity, the aggresive improvisation over one scale, but without Coltrane, he is just bad and totally lost. And indeed, the worst Coltrane pieces are those where Tyner has an extended solo, such as in "Afro-Blue" on "One up, one down". There you hear all his strict limitations in terms of harmony and developing an interesting solo.

Deserves 10 stars.......2005-02-14

This is such a rewarding CD ! McCoy Tyner's recordings are among my favorites in jazz and in a trio setting he is really allowed to display his incredible virtuosity. Here he is beautifully accompanied by George Mraz and Al Foster. Mraz provides fine bass playing throughout and several of his solos are just outstanding as well. The drumming is perfectly suited to these arrangements of tunes recorded by Coltrane and Foster's drum solo on Afro Blue is wonderful.
I just caught Tyner's more recent trio with Eric Harland and Charnett Moffett performing in LA and they were playing as if they were of one mind. Harland's drumming is terrific as well. After seeing them and then listening to this I for one will never miss an opportunity to hear McCoy Tyner in a trio setting.
Buy this CD if you don't have it. You will be glad you did.

A Truly Rewarding Set.......2004-03-14

This live set of music associated with Mr. Tyner's former boss/collaborator rewards with repeated listening because this trio's music is greater than the sum of the parts. This is special praise considering that the players' individual contributions are unique and outstanding. The range of Tyner's creativity includes the gentle romanticism of "After The Rain", the controlled yet rhythmic passion of "Afro Blue", and the bright, soulful blues expression of "Mr. Day". Please note that it is often overlooked that McCoy Tyner is an outstanding blues player! Throughout this set (in which each tune is a winner), George Mraz(bass) and Al Foster(drums) lay a firm magical carpet while providing their own brands of sonic and rhythmic electricity. Foster listens intently and at times seems to have a particular ESP with Tyner. In paying tribute to John Coltrane, Tyner's two-handed virtousity literally welds musical ideas into the listener's consciousness and thus inspires and rewards.

Good, just shy of great.......2003-12-30

I spontaneously bought this cd yesterday after seeing it in a local cd store. I only have one Tyner solo disc, and a bunch of other discs with him (such as old Coltrane albums).

McCoy Tyner does a great job of adapting Coltrane's sometimes off-the-wall playing into his own style of "controlled agression" piano playing (term not copywrited yet by yours truly). While Tyner has mellowed a bit in the past couple of decades, his playing is still as potent as ever. And what better way to showcase his talent then by adapting Coltrane sax classics into his own style?

I think this disc falls just a shade short of being brilliant. It's good for what it is. Coltrane covers, but just a little bit away from being truly inspired and jaw dropping.

If you are a Coltrane fan, or a Tyner fan, or both, you will enjoy this release.

McCoy Tyner's Best?!.......2002-07-04

I have two McCoy Tyner recordings: "Live at the Village" and "Trident", and, although both seem exceptional, "Live at the Village" just amazes me! Tyner and Co. have captured the essence of Coltrane's music in such a fresh and imaginative way. Moreover, Al Foster (one of my favorite drummers after hearing him here and on Bobby Hutcherson's "Skyline") and George Mraz offer support and empathy in what McCoy is trying to achieve in terms of mood and capturing the essence of Coltrane (which to me represents a spiritul quest through music). I bought this together with Pat Metheny Group's "Quartet" and Nicolas Payton's "Finger Painting: A Tribute to Herbie Hancock", and truely struck a mother lode of outstanding music. For me it doesn't get much better than this.

McCoy Tyner Plays John Coltrane: Live at the Village Vanguard

Average customer rating:

McCoy Tyner Plays John Coltrane: Live at the Village Vanguard
McCoy Tyner
Manufacturer: Universal/Polygram
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Modern Postbebop | Jazz | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00005NRWZ
Release Date: 2001-10-03

Tracks:

Naima
Moment's Notice
Crescent
After the Rain
Afro Blue
I Want to Talk About You
Mr. Day

Jazz Music:

Jazz Music

Jazz Music