Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » McCoy Tyner (OJC: Focal Point
McCoy Tyner (OJC: Focal Point
Although McCoy Tyner recorded with consistent excellence beyond his brilliant and definitive work with John Coltrane, the pianist's Milestone legacy (1972-81) cemented his individual place in the jazz pantheon. Focal Point is a 1976 Milestone date now reissued on OJC that enhances Tyner's then working trio of Charles Fambrough on bass and Eric Gravatt on drums with the commanding reeds of Gary Bartz, Joe Ford and Ron Bridgewater and Guilherme Franco's colorful, exotic percussion. Here, Tyner explores a neat half dozen of his exceptional originals and elicits some of his most powerful, energetic personal pianism. Stand outs include "Mes Trois Fils," the very Tyneresque "Mode for Dulcimer" (with Tyner on the eponymous instrument and Franco subtly working the tabla), the Tyner-Gravatt duet of "Parody" and the Tyner-Ford-Fambrough-Gravatt-Franco "Theme For Nana." A little overdubbing occurs, but the result is still a tight, simpatico septet that understands and thrives on Tyner's unique conceptions.
Songs:Mes Trois Fils; Parody; Indo-Serenade; Mode for Dulcimer; Departure; Departure; Theme for Nana.
Players:McCoy Tyner: piano, dulcimer; Gary Bartz: clarinet, sopranino, soprano sax, alto sax; Joe Ford: flutes, soprano sax, alto sax; Ron Bridgewater: soprano sax, tenor sax; Charles Fambrough: bass; Eric Kamau Gravatt: drums; Guilherme Franco: congas, percussion, tabla.
Personnel
McCoy Tyner
pianoAlbum information
Title: Focal Point | Year Released: 1999 | Record Label: Fantasy Jazz
About McCoy Tyner
Tags
PREVIOUS / NEXT
Become a Sustaining Member
Since 1995, All About Jazz has championed jazz as an art form and supported the musicians who create it. Over three decades, it has grown into one of the world's leading jazz resources, serving hundreds of thousands of readers, musicians, presenters and industry professionals each month.
Help Build the Future of All About Jazz
Your support helps us continue building All About Jazz for the next generation—expanding our editorial coverage, preserving jazz history, developing new community features and creating better ways to discover the music and the people behind it.
Become a sustaining member for as little as $20 per year and you'll immediately enjoy an ad-free experience along with access to subscriber features and future articles for a full year.
Together, we're not simply sustaining All About Jazz—we're building its future. Thank you for being part of the journey.
