Customer Reviews

Trident

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Not only does this recording feature three of the most influential musicians of their respective instruments, but it also features them in top form. Tyner and Jones sound as good here as any of their monster recordings with Coltrane, and Ron Carter is in his usual top-bass-player-in-jazz form (check out his solo on "impressions"!). The trio lets it fly for most of the recording, and ending on a more mellow note with a nice rendition of Monk's "ruby, my dear". May be my only knock on the recording is its length: 41:00, in that McCoy is someone I enjoy listening to for extended periods. Oh well, have the cd changer ready.

McCoy plays harpsichord and celeste!! Yeah, you heard it. On Celestial Chant, McCoy opens up the song on harpsicord with Elvin Jones's rumbling drums before giving way to his piano and then a fine solo by Ron Carter on bass. Next McCoy moves to celeste on Once I Loved which is also excellent, and then on to Elvin (Sir) Jones. You know who is bad on that one! haha! And we also have a roaring trio version of Impressions, which is almost as impressive (in intensity and quality) as the John Coltrane original which you can hear on various sets such as The Village Vanguard Box and whatnot. This album is excellent, and has a ton of flavor amidst all the fusion activity of the 1970's. Definitely highly recommended. Elvin and McCoy are just powerful, while Ron Carter is just jazz...

This is, for me, McCoy Tyner's greatest ever recording. A pianist of his power and conceptual brilliance is best suited for the purity of a trio, and with Ron Carter and Elvin Jones, plus the superb selection of tunes, the album is a wonder. It also contains my favourite McCoy original, "Land of the Lonely". It doesn't get any better than this. A timeless classic. Piano players will be shaking their heads in disbelief.

This is a great album. McCoy, Ron Carter and Elvin Jones are at the top of their game. The musicianship is brilliant and there is an incredible energy to the album which is truly compelling. One of the best jazz albums of all time. I have found that many rock fans with no prior exposure to jazz often like this album, just due to its high energy and obvious brilliance.

Were you to wander into an intimate jazz club one night and see this trio on the bandstand, leaving for home might seem an unbearable option. Quite simply, this is as powerful and put-together a jazz trio as you will ever encounter, and all three players are in top form. Tyner is blindingly fast, but there's more to it than that, he's got feeling, passion, intensity, and a polyrhythmic mentality that enables him to be everywhere at once. Elvin Jones, longtime collaborator, was easily one of the best drummers in jazz, maybe the best. Here he is as athletic and committed as he's ever been, which is saying something. Ron Carter's involvement is far more primary than what's usually expected from the bass, this is very much a trio and Carter is clearly contributing every step of the way. It would be hard to find a jazz cd where the three members of a trio are more seamlessly and evenly integrated - they synchronized their watches and left the station, generating more force than the average diesel locomotive along the way. There is little need to specify standouts on this cd, it is uniformly superb. But then, consider the source.

Tyner really lets it loose here. This simple trio action contains more action and energy than any big band. Tyner is one of the most fiery, dynamic pianists out there.

Elvin Jones has never sounded bigger and louder on the drums either, (especially on Sir Jones). Tyner also adds to the mix by dabbling on harpschord during a few of the pieces. If you were turned off by some of Tyner's noiser Milestone work (Atlantis) or some of the more boring stuff (Fly with the Wind) pick this one up for sure.

One of my all time favorite recordings by the " master" . He is , without doubt, the greatest pianist alive today-period. His control,speed with both hands,the density and depth, harmonic, rythmic, and melodic concepts are "other-worldly". He is the standard by whom all other Jazz pianists must be measured . It is a reflection of the man. However, I must say my all time favorite recording by him is "Atlantis". And yet, he has never disappointed me in any of his recordings. I love his music.

This is a classic. A must have for McCoy Tyner lovers and those who wish to become acquainted with one of the best jazz pianist of this century.