Who does a legendary jazz piano player have duet with him on guitar? Anyone he wants to.  Fans of jazz know that McCoy Tyner is a gifted jazz piano player who started in the famous John Coltrane Quartet and continued to make amazing jazz albums. At 80 years old he is not stopping.  I had the pleasure of seeing him at a live show last year at Boston's Regata Jazz Bar, and I can tell you that McCoy Tyner is incredible.

It was an easy decision to make when I spotted a CD/DVD package simply titled McCoy Tyner - Guitars.  Tyner has played with saxophone players (most notably John Coltrane) horns (he had a great horn player when I saw him live), solo but never with guitar accompinement.  Better late than never, and this album delivers!

The first song titled simply Improvisiation sounds horrible. Discordant noises and notes sound from the piano and the guitar. However, it seemed but a tease as guitar player Marc Ribit plays into the second song Passion Dance with Tyner. I love this composition written by Tyner years ago. It was one I saw him play live, and hearing it with piano and guitar gives it a brand new sound.  The bass playing by Ron Carter on this album is also phenomenal.  Its a nice deep stand up acoustic bass, and it makes its presence felt.  Even with headphones on it's got a nice deep rich tone. The interplay of Ribit's guitar against Tyner's powerful piano playing just must be listened to.  Even the drumming here just sounds rich and powerful. Jack Dejohnette plays drums on all tracks. 

This first song just got me completely into the album, and its been in my car or on one of my systems since I got it. Since it came iwth a DVD, I've also watched the song performed a number of times.  As I write this review, my copy is on loan to my son's piano teacher, a gifted jazz and piano teacher himself.  Needless to say, the first time we fired the CD up on Crossroads stereo system, he loved it and was glad I had brought it in.  (Nothing like listening to CDs on studio pro amps and monitors!).  I am listening as I review to my copy ripped to my computer.  The point I'm making here, is that jazz fans just immediately take to this album, it is that good.  500 Miles is also performed with Marc Ribit playing with McCoy.

The next couple tunes are Mr. P.C. and Blues on the Corner. These are performed with John Scofield on guitar. It should also be noted that these are not dubbed or overlayed guitar tracks. A quick read of the liner notes or a watch of the DVD will confirm that this is Tyner with these gifted guitarists playing live in the studio.  When one guitarist suggested that he dub his guitar track, he was quickly informed that he would play live with Mr. Tyner and that is how it would be done. Right now as I listen on my Koss Headphones, again, I am amazed at how deep and rich the bass is, and just how great Scofield's guitar sounds on this.  It always pleases me to hear interpretation of a work usually on one instrument performed on another.  Hearing Tyner's wonderful piano pieces performed on guitar is a treat.  Tyner himself looked very pleased as he played.  Since each song is over 6 minutes long, they have time to get into it and play around with the rhythms and melodies.

A second improve piece with Marc Ribit was much more pleasing to my ear than the first.   Bela Fleck songs are up next.  Those more knowlegable of great banjo players than I, already know she plays banjo.  My list of top ten favorite instruments does not include the banjo, yet I found myself enjoying these songs as well.  Trade Winds, Amberjack and My Favorite Things all featured Bela with McCoy.  Coltrane fans will recall that Rogers and Hammerstien's My Favorite Things was a favorite tune of Coltranes. Tyner starts with the traditional piano melody and I have to say that Bela Fleck made the banjo work for this song.   The more I listen to music, the more I think anything is possible. (On a personal note, my son just learned how to play a Satriani song on the mandolin!) 

Derek Trucks is up next with Slapback Blues and Greensleeves.  On Slapback Blues, Trucks guitar has that really cool twangy sort of jazz/blues tone going on with his guitar. Tyner and the bass and drums were pure traditional sounding jazz against it.  Listening on my home theater with a neural surround sound setting gives me an in the studio feeling.  The guitar is front and center while the jazz ensemble fills my living room. Greensleeves has a very traditional sound to it (as it should since it's one of the earliest known pieces of music).  The first half is just Tyner with the bass and drums then suddenly in comes the guitar.  I had Paul my guitar teacher try to teach me a few licks the way Trucks performs them in this song. The amazing thing about a really good guitar player is how easy they make licks that are actually fairly complicated sound. A lot of subtle nuances are in Truck's playing. (I'm working on them!)  Again, an example of taking a song you've heard dozens of times, dozens of ways in yet a new and fresh way. 

McCoy Tyner's Guitars album closes out with a trio of songs with guitar player, Bill Frisell:  Contemplation, Boubacar and Baba Drame.  This is one highly satisfying jazz album.

The DVD

A selection of the above songs were also presented on DVD, so you got to watch the legends playing the songs in the studio. You can listen in PCM stereo or choose Dolby Digital 5.1 for a full studio feel.  My advice is to get this with the DVD, it really adds to the overall experence.   The whole project was done to high standards of exellence and it shows in every detail of this recording.

Listening Equipment

This was listened to on the stock radio of an Acura Integra. It was listened to on a home theater system with a Yamaha RX V663 with Cambridge Soundworks MC400 speakers and a Velodyne Subwoofer. It was listened to on a Professional Studio Rack with Wharfdale Monitors. It was listened to on Koss Headphones.  It was played ripped onto a HP computer, the CD was played on Pioneer DVD players, and Meridian CD players. The DVD was played with a Playstation 3 and watched on a Dalite Cinemavision movie screen with an Optoma HD70 projector.  It sounds great no matter what you play it in or on!

Summary

Out of the last few albums I've picked up ranging from AC/DC to the Cure and The Eagles latest albums, this one has been played the most.  I love almost all genres of music, but this album seems to go beyond mere genre, it is just great music.

Recommend this product?