Mccoy Tyner & Latin All-Stars

McCoy Tyner | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 23, 1999)
• Original Release Date: March 23, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Telarc
• ASIN: B00000IFTM
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #150,790 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Fresh from a world tour, McCoy Tyner's Latin All Stars headed straight to the studio to preserve the memory. The nine-member powerhouse includes Steve Turre on trombone and shells, Gary Bartz on alto and soprano, Avery Sharpe on bass, Ignacio Berroa on drums, Giovanni Hidalgo on percussion, Johnny Alemendra on timbales, Claudio Rodito on trumpet and flügelhorn, Dave Valentin on flute, and the maestro on piano. The opener, "Festival in Bahia," is a great showcase, complete with a vamp tailor-made for solo stretches of improvisatory machismo. Tyner's rendition of "Poinciana" (a tune so immortalized by Ahmad Jamal that almost no one else courts it) is done sans horns and sounds fresh. Unfortunately, the direct-to-two-track mode of recording does not do justice to such a capacious ensemble: the percussion loses much of its depth, the trombone sounds by turns strident and muddy, the clarity of the sax is inconsistent, and the shells fare even worse. Even this lamentable circumstance does not rob the album of its momentum: Kenny Dorham's classic "Blue Bossa" is taken at a tempo that would burn a dancer to dust, and Mongo Santamaria's "Afro Blue" is mined for all it's worth. The pianist is, of course, the crowning glory: singularly thrilling in approach and execution, he remains inimitable. --Karen Bennett

From Jazziz

Pianist McCoy Tyner & The Latin All-Stars come on like a band of Latino musical marauders. Running the gamut of grooves in a state-of-the-art fashion, Tyner's nonet proves exemplary at distilling the deep connections betwen Latin music and jazz. For example, Kenny Dorham's jam-session favorite, "Blue Bossa" is presented as an uptempo samba with alternate changes - far removed from its relaxed original form. "La Habana Sol" - one of three Tyner originals - is a blistering line woven through a slightly veiled merengue beat. Excellent arrangements of "Poinciana" and "Afro Blue" round out the more recognizable fare.

The soloing is heavy-duty. tyner is heard sounding much more aggressive than of late. Trombonist Steve Turre breaks out his conch shells for several inspired solos. While Gary Bartz's gutsy alto and soprano are firmly grounded in latter-day Coltrane, Claudio Roditi's trumpet conjures the fluidity of a Clifford Brown.

The Latin All-Stars' horn section spews tight passages like an open fire hydrant on a stifling summer day in the Bronx. The crisp rhythm section, based around drummer Ignacio Berroa, clearly understands how to work the fundamental clave. All the while, Tyner stokes a fire beneath his hot band, spurring impulsive soloists to reach beyond their technical facilities toward the realm of free association.

--- James Rozzi, JAZZIZ Magazine Copyright © 2000, Milor Entertainment, Inc.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tyner couldn't be finer, July 21, 2003

By 

Jan P. Dennis "Longboard jazzer" (Monument, CO USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mccoy Tyner & Latin All-Stars (Audio CD)

McCoy Tyner has an innate feel for Latin-jazz, especially of the Afro-Cuban variety. Indeed, he has played in such settings since at least the sixties, and has toured extensively with Latin-jazz musicians. Though his playing is not technically Cuban-derived, it nonetheless meshes seamlessly with Afro-Cuban styles.

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.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superior Latin jazz, November 15, 2001

By 

LGwriter "SharpWitGuy" (Astoria, N.Y. United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mccoy Tyner & Latin All-Stars (Audio CD)

McCoy gets into this Latin jazz thing with guns blazing. He's a marvel here; his modal playing is perfectly suited to the material. Many of the other musicians are Latin American, with the exception of the brilliant Gary Bartz on sax and Avery Sharpe on bass. Mongo Santamaria's Afro Blue gets a smokin' treatment--listen to Giovanni Hidalgo and Johnny Almendra on percussion. And Kenny Dorham's Blue Bossa swings and sways--its lyricism blossoms with these guys.

The original tunes here are also great; McCoy stretches out on A Song for Love and on the first track, Festival in Bahia. The mix of Cuban and Brazilian influenced material is inspired as well.

Everybody plays great here. Dig it!!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Album, July 10, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Mccoy Tyner & Latin All-Stars (Audio CD)

The Song Blue Bossa is really Great. His other songs aren't to bad but if you love beutiful piano interludes blue bossa is just for you. This is a rather different album but it is altogether pretty good!