"I'm not very spiritual. I just acknowledge what's here" McCoy Tyner, a jazz pianist from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Watch more about music on www.musicinmusi... Facebook: / music-in-music
He was kind and generous in addition to being an inspiring and original musician. I miss him so much and I am deeply grateful to him for all that he gave to me. Thank you McCoy.
McCoy changed my life when I was 14 . I was very lucky my brothers brought me to the Keystone Korner in San Franciso to see him record Atlantis . Thanks McCoy !
I think the first few times I saw McCoy Tyner was in the early to mid-70's at a pretty small jazz club in SF (Keystone Korner). Azar Lawrence (sax) was with him each time. Man, what a sound. It sounded as if you were under a waterfall with crystalline notes cascading over you instead of water. Very powerful, yet beautiful. Visceral and cerebral at the same time....hard to put into words how great it was.
Like many people who are very proficient with their craft, Mr. Tyner describes himself in comprehendable, simple words. Like John Coltrane, he was extremely spiritual.
When he said "I'm not spiritual" that was deep; his music was SO spiritual and yet he acknowledged that he himself was not...wow. I think it had to do with the fact that he acknowledged that he was just a vessel that received his GIFT from God. And this is my personal opinion-in the last 20 years of his life and career he had acquired a depth; an as of yet still unidentifiable quality to his playing that exuded from everything he played pretty much; saw him in Detroit at Orchestra Hall about 15 years ago and I heard it live-was so moved I then went and bought his latest releases(on his own label)-a couple of cds-and could hear where that evolved quality or depth was still there, even in his recordings...like no other pianist I had ever heard in my lifetime-or to this day-wow! In summation, we were blessed to have a man of his musical quality and depth in our lifetime-and there'll never be another like him. 12-22-23.
From the day that I first heard a Love supreme I have greatly enjoyed McCoy's playing. I've tried to pattern myself after him in terms of my own keyboarding
I'm not a keyboardist(at least I don't consider myself as such per se'), but I feel the same way about McCoy Tyner; about 30 years ago I first became exposed to a "Love Supreme"-and to this day for me, it remains one of the seminal points in Jazz... 12-22-23.
When I was 12 or 13, I lived around the corner from Mc Coy, and one day my mother was having her hair done in Mrs. Tyner's beauty shop. Mom called me, and asked me to bring her something, and I was shocked, to see a beautiful upright grand piano in the middle of Mrs. Tyner's shop. One night I went out to Mr. Izzie's store, on the corner of 48th and Fairmont Ave. I got a bag of candy and I walked a half a block down Fairmont to Mrs. Tyner's shop and I heard the most beautiful music. Arpeggios, and scales. I sat on the steps of the shop and listened to Mc Coy play the piano. After a while, my Mom came, and scolded, me for staying out so late. From then on, every chance I could find a reason to go out, I would get my bag of candy, and sit on Mrs. Tyner's steps, listen to Mc Coy play. I am exactly 7 months older than Mc Coy, and I believe I might have been his 1st fan. RIP Mc Coy. We miss you, Brother!
Sahara for sure steered me to a completely different concept than what I was hearing from John Coltrane. It was McCoys own voice. Be sure to look closely at the cover photo and relate that to a barren urban landscape-an urban desert. An urban "Sahara"
