In Honor Of McCoy Tyner...

[Corno Dolce]

If I'm not mistaken, it could be Corno Dolce's classical side coming out here,
if he thinks McCoy Tyner is less melodic than Keith Jarrett, or anyone else.
Sensing Mr. Tyners' power is like just hearing a rhythm, not catching melody right away.
But adding power to melody, even a tense grandeur, can enable a delicacy melody alone can't.
More than creating cool, even his silences can provide a new focus of rapture.

In 1977, I saw McCoy Tyner during his "Atlantis" tour. The best music ever.
He was kind, and very gracious, spending twenty minutes with me between sets,
when I saw he was standing all alone at the end of the bar with his own orange juice container in the cooler.
That's how long it took for him to break me into the jazz scene, big big time.

Hi John Watt,

It was an opinion of a colleague of mine in Moscow, not my own. I respect McCoy's artistry totally.

[Corno Dolce]

Hi Corno. I'm absolutely with you on this; these are truly great performances by two geniuses. The back and forth between them is just so melodic and unbelievable that it sounds as if they have been performing together all their lives. Simply awesome! Would you happen to know from which Trane or Tyner cd the piece "Equinox" is from? I must purchase it ASAP! It's good hearing from you--hope all is well with you and your family. Steve

Hi Steve,

I'm so sorry - I wish I knew which Trane or Tyner piece 'Equinox" is from. Thank you for your well-wishing of my tribe. I trust that all is well with yours too.

Cordially yours,

CD

[White Knight]

Thanks, Corno, every one on this end is hanging in there. I'll do some further research into that "Equinox" piece and--if you like--let you know on which album/cd it might be found.

[White Knight]

Hi Corno, re: "Equinox", it is from the Coltrane's Sound cd. I just found it thru wiki and listened on you tube.com

[Corno Dolce]

Hi Steve,

Totally superfab!!! Many thanks for your super-sleuthing to find "Coltrane's Sound".

Respectfully,

CD

[White Knight]

Hi Steve,

Totally superfab!!! Many thanks for your super-sleuthing to find "Coltrane's Sound".

Respectfully,

CD

Corno, my pleasure! Now I intend to buy that, as well as Coltrane Plays The Blues.

[White Knight]

Hi Corno. Check this out: http://youtu.be/0lOYnQ- _ Hw. I'm not sure I posted this link right, but if you go to youtube.com and type in Afro- Blue, that's what I was trying to get you to. Sorry, I am still perfecting my link sharing skills. Mccoy Tyner's playing is--as always--out of this world. Enjoy!

[John Watt]

You're making it feel like a happy return, Mr. Corno Dolce.

Despite what was an even more John Coltrane-centric world in the sixties and seventies,
out of all the Coltrane albums I had back then, only a couple of tunes still carry me now.
"After the Rain", and a similar, slow piece, "Alabama".
I heard Elvin Jones and McCoy Tyner as moving that approach further.

It's hurts a little, to see McCoy Tyner looking this way.
I haven't listened, yet. I don't want to be disappointed.

[John Watt]

Yeah! The one thing McCoy Tyner did that was totally cool was his use of an antique instrument.
It looked bigger than a half-size kleenex box, painted with native motif, with strings.
McCoy would start strumming that on top of the piano in front of him,
until the place quieted down and you could hear what he was playing.
Then he'd work in one hand on the piano, the band would join in,
and then he'd bring it all back down to him strumming on top of the piano.
Beautiful! I've been trying things like that ever since.

One night, setting up for the first time in a main highway hotel bar,
the singer didn't feel ready, seeing the crowd there already, before we started.
The drummer said John, you start it, so I went up to my mike and started talking about the rainy night,
the rainy highways, how it felt more mellow and warm inside than dance party,
strumming E minor to A, saying we should do some "Down By The River", by Neil Young.
This wasn't a song the band had done or rehearsed, but up here everyone knows Neil Young.
That's a kind of jazz moment, jamming out a song you've never done before.
That really went over nice, everyone clapping and starting to move around.

When I went over to see if I could talk with McCoy Tyner, I decided not to say John Coltrane.
I also talked about my Stratocaster and Marshall with effects, and didn't say Jimi Hendrix.
I felt the need to respect his career.
McCoy Tyner didn't say his name either, but after laughing at my comments and singing some parts,
he started talking about when he got down and stopped playing professionally,
living in New York, tending an orange tree in the backyard.
I said I was lucky playing guitar, being able to take it with me everywhere,
and McCoy got going about different pianos, rental pianos, breaking strings,
the both of us getting into it.

That might not sound like a lot, two guys yacking away for over twenty minutes,
but after he left to go back onstage the crowd was there for me too.
The waitress came over with another round for our table,
and said no charge, any friend of McCoy Tyner is a friend of the bar.
Beautiful! And that was The El Mocambo, a premium bar in Toronto.

Mr. McCoy Tyner: the album, "Echoes of a Friend", my favorite solo piano.

[John Watt]

Yeah, I'm rereading what I wrote myself, and beyond the uh, socializing,
I'm remembering what had to be arpeggiated suspended fifths, sevenths, everything.
The pressure Mr. McCoy Tyner gets beamed his way, being a master, a virtuoso, all the time,
can't be good long term.
He should get a bigger band together that's more pop, having a singer, backup singers,
hiring more family and friends, to have a different act.
If he can consciously apply himself to where he's an integral part of John Coltrane's band,
he should challenge himself to see if he can have a radio hit.
There's nothing wrong with just wanting to play and have a good time, being carried by a band.
Instead of "Take Five", he should do an update, "Take a High Five".
"Fist Bump", if he's gettin'a little high tech wit'it.
Although I have to admit, I can't imagine him standing up and kicking away the bench.