Sahara (McCoy Tyner album)

Last updated
Sahara
Sahara (McCoy Tyner album).jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedJuly 1972 [1]
RecordedJanuary 1972
StudioDecca Recording Studio, New York City
Genre Jazz
Length47:55
Label Milestone
MSP 9039
Producer Orrin Keepnews
McCoy Tyner chronology
Extensions
(1972)
Sahara
(1972)
Echoes of a Friend
(1972)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [2]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [3]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [4]
Down Beat Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [5]

Sahara is the twelfth 1972 album by jazz pianist McCoy Tyner, his first to be released on the Milestone label. It was recorded in January 1972 and features performances by Tyner with saxophonist Sonny Fortune, bassist Calvin Hill, and drummer Alphonse Mouzon. The music shows African and Eastern influences and features all the musicians playing multiple instruments, with Tyner himself utilizing koto, flute, and percussion in addition to his usual piano. [6]

Contents

Reception

The AllMusic review by Brian Olewnick states "Tyner would go on to create several fine albums in the mid-'70s, but never again would he scale quite these heights. Sahara is an astonishingly good record and belongs in every jazz fan's collection". [2]

In addition to its critical praise, the album is also considered Tyner's commercial breakthrough; it sold over 100,000 copies and was nominated for two Grammys. [7]

Track listing

All compositions by McCoy Tyner

  1. "Ebony Queen" — 9:00
  2. "A Prayer for My Family" — 4:48
  3. "Valley of Life" — 5:19
  4. "Rebirth" — 5:20
  5. "Sahara" — 23:27

Personnel

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References

  1. Billboard July 29, 1972
  2. 1 2 Olewnick, Brian. "Sahara". Allmusic . Retrieved February 7, 2012.
  3. Swenson, J., ed. (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. p. 194. ISBN   0-394-72643-X.
  4. Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 1426. ISBN   978-0-141-03401-0.
  5. Down Beat: October 12, 1972 vol. 39, no. 16
  6. "Sahara - Credits". Allmusic . Retrieved February 7, 2012.
  7. Santosuosso, Ernie (March 15, 1984). "1984 Boston Globe Jazz Festival; McCoy Tyner". The Boston Globe . p. 1. Retrieved February 7, 2012.