In his mid-'60s at the time of this pair of studio sessions,
McCoy Tyner is hardly the prototype of a musician re-creating past hits, instead he signals that he still has a few surprises up his sleeve. One thing apparent right away in his opener, "Illuminations," is that he is willing to stay in the background a good deal of the time, focusing the spotlight on bandmembers
Terence Blanchard,
Gary Bartz,
Christian McBride, and
Lewis Nash. The leader's driving Latin-flavored "Angelina" features his intricate solo as its centerpiece, though his instrument still seems mixed into the background. Perhaps the greatest surprise among his own works is the playful strutting "New Orleans Stomp," in which his down-home piano will lift a few eyebrows, accompanied by
Blanchard's almost vocal-like trumpet. "The Chase" is a brief but rapid-fire workout with the rhythm section that will sound more familiar to longtime fans of
Tyner.
Bartz penned the strident post-bop vehicle "Soulstice," while
Blanchard contributed the moody "Blessings," which blends a dark bass vamp with an uplifting Latin-flavored unison line by the two horns.
McBride's "West Philly Tone Poem" features his warm arco bass in an inspired duet with the leader. The trio of standards heard here include "Alone Together" featuring
Blanchard's sassy trumpet, while the relaxed but upbeat "If I Should Lose You" finds
Bartz switching to soprano sax. This is yet another essential release by the always enjoyable
McCoy Tyner. ~ Ken Dryden