An interesting project that works quite well. The already-distinctive pianist
McCoy Tyner utilized bassist
Jimmy Garrison, drummer
Elvin Jones, and two Latin percussionists to interpret a full set of
Duke Ellington songs (although "Caravan" was actually composed by
Juan Tizol). In addition to some well-known standards,
Tyner debuted an unrecorded
Ellington piece, "Searchin'," and revived "Mr. Gentle & Mr. Cool." This is an excellent outing that displays both
Tyner's debt to the jazz tradition and his increasingly original style. ~ Scott Yanow