Mccoy Tyner - Mccoy Tyner & Latin All-Stars

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Free Music Notes for Mccoy Tyner & Latin All-Stars

Free Music Review: Tyner couldn't be finer
Hit: 5 Stars

This disc, a companion to his great record of 1981, La Leyenda de la Hora, is among Tyner's finest. The band, made up of equal parts jazz and Latin musicians, features some of the very best of each, including Ignacio Berroa (a carryover from La Leyenda) on drums, Dave Valentin on flute, Gary Bartz on alto sax, Avery Sharpe on bass, Claudio Roditi on trumpet, Johnny Almendra on timbales, Giovanni Hildago on congas, and Steve Turre on trombone and shells. The latter especially shines throughout.
One of my favorite moments is his great conch solo on "Afro Blue," the Mongo Santamaria classic, here given a very spirited reading by the whole band. He also uncorks a great trombone solo on "Festival in Bahia." But he saves his best for "La Habana Sol" (the only number from La Leyenda included here) where he lets loose with a burning solo entirely in keeping with the fiery treatment this magical piece receives. Indeed, it's hard to imagine this record without his huge presence.

A word must also be put in for the tremendous contributions of the three Latin percussionists, Berroa, Almendra, and Hildago. The latter blasts off with a stunning short solo, perfectly placed and timed, on "La Habana Sol," while Berroa shows he's grown with both a deeper groove and greater coloration than ever.

Tyner's playing, however, shines brightest. He's absolutely on with his trademark single-note runs, often taken at breakneck speed. But it's not just that he "plays a lot of notes." He knows exactly where to place each one for optimal tonal and rhythmic value. And his ensemble playing always brilliantly punctuates even as it pushes the other musicians forward. Indeed, this disc contains some of the very finest Latin-jazz ensemble playing anywhere on record.

I'd have to disagree with those who say this record fades after the--admittedly remarkable--opener, "Festival in Bahia." To these ears the ensemble and solo brilliance keeps up throughout the entire disc, with high spots being "Poinciana," "Afro Blue," "La Habana Sol," and "Blue Bossa," the latter featuring a burning flute solo by Valentin where he pulls out all the stops and proves himself to be, not counting Robert Dick, the reigning master of his instrument. Bartz, Sharpe, Roditi, and Turre also contribute some amazing moments when they trade fours with the percussionists.

If you have any affinity at all for this kind of music, you will want to add this disc to your collection.

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