Alfred McCoy Tyner was an American jazz pianist and composer known for his work with the John Coltrane Quartet and his long solo career afterwards. He was an NEA Jazz Master and five-time Grammy award winner. Unlike many of the jazz keyboardists of his generation, Tyner very rarely incorporated electric keyboards or synthesizers into his work. Tyner has been widely imitated, and is one of the most recognizable and influential pianists in jazz history.
Avery Sharpe is an American jazz double-bassist, electric bassist, composer, educator and founder of the artist-owned record label, JKNM Records.
Major Changes is a 1987 album by Frank Morgan with the McCoy Tyner Trio released on the Contemporary label. It was recorded in April 1987 and features performances by Morgan and Tyner with Avery Sharpe and Louis Hayes.
Double Trios is a 1986 album by jazz pianist McCoy Tyner released on the Denon label. It features performances by Tyner supported by bassist Avery Sharpe and drummer Louis Hayes or bass guitarist Marcus Miller and drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts along with percussionist Steve Thornton. The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow states "it is particularly interesting to hear the pianist's reworkings of "Lil' Darlin'," "Satin Doll", "Lover Man" and Thelonious Monk's "Rhythm-A-Ning," transforming them into modal masterpieces".
Bon Voyage is a 1987 album by McCoy Tyner released on the Timeless label. It was recorded in June 1987 and features performances by Tyner with bassist Avery Sharpe and drummer Louis Hayes.
Live at the Musicians Exchange Cafe is a live album by McCoy Tyner released on the Who's Who in Jazz label. It was recorded in July 1987 and features performances by Tyner with Avery Sharpe and Louis Hayes.
Uptown/Downtown is a 1988 live album by McCoy Tyner released on the Milestone label, his first for the label since 13th House (1980). It was recorded in November 1988 and features performances by Tyner's Big Band, which included tenor saxophonists Junior Cook and Ricky Ford, trumpeter Kamau Adilifu and trombonist Steve Turre, recorded at the Blue Note jazz club in New York City. The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow states that "the results are quite memorable and frequently exciting. Recommended".
Live at Sweet Basil is a 1989 live album by McCoy Tyner released on the Japanese King label. It was recorded in May 1989 and features performances by Tyner's trio which included bassist Avery Sharpe and drummer Aaron Scott at the Sweet Basil jazz club in New York City. The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow calls the album "a definitive look at McCoy Tyner in the late '80s".
Just Feelin' is a 1985 album by jazz pianist McCoy Tyner originally released on the Palo Alto label. It features performances by Tyner with his trio featuring bassist Avery Sharpe and drummer Louis Hayes along with percussionist Babatunde.
Remembering John is a 1991 album by McCoy Tyner released on the Enja label. It was recorded in February 1991 and features performances by Tyner with bassist Avery Sharpe and drummer Aaron Scott paying tribute to John Coltrane. The AllMusic review by Scott Yanow states that "McCoy Tyner still sounds enthusiastic and adventurous performing the timeless music".
Key of Soul is a live album by McCoy Tyner released on the Japanese Alfa label. It was recorded in June 1991 at Sweet Basil in New York City and features a live performance by Tyner with bassist Avery Sharpe and drummer Aaron Scott. Another album of this evening's concert was released as Solar: Live at Sweet Basil (1991).
In New York is a 1991 live album by tenor saxophonist Steve Grossman with the McCoy Tyner Trio released on the Dreyfus label. It was recorded in September 1991 at Sweet Basil in New York City and features a live performance by Grossman and Tyner with bassist Avery Sharpe and drummer Art Taylor. The AllMusic review by Richard Ginell states "With this kind of firepower, the listener is usually guaranteed a satisfying level of cooking jazz, and that's certainly what we get here, though it seldom rises above that into a higher region".
The Turning Point is an album by McCoy Tyner's Big Band released on the Birdology label in 1992. It was recorded in November 1991 and features performances by Tyner's Big Band.
Journey is an album by McCoy Tyner's Big Band released on the Birdology label in 1993. It was recorded in May 1993 and features performances by Tyner's Big Band, which included trombonists Steve Turre and Frank Lacy, alto saxophonist Joe Ford, tenor saxophonist Billy Harper, bassist Avery Sharpe and drummer Aaron Scott. Dianne Reeves sings Sammy Cahn’s lyrics on Tyner’s classic composition “You Taught My Heart to Sing”.
Infinity is an album by McCoy Tyner released on the Impulse! label in 1995. It was recorded in April 1995 and features performances by Tyner with tenor saxophonist Michael Brecker, bassist Avery Sharpe, drummer Aaron Scott and percussionist Valtinho Anastacio. The album won the 1996 Grammy for Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, while Michael Brecker won the Grammy for Best Jazz Instrumental Solo for the track "Impressions".
McCoy Tyner and the Latin All-Stars is an album by McCoy Tyner, released on the Telarc label in 1999. It was recorded in July 1998 and contains performances by Tyner with alto saxophonist Gary Bartz, trumpeter Claudio Roditi, flautist Dave Valentin, bassist Avery Sharpe, drummer Ignacio Berroa and percussionists Johnny Almendra and Giovanni Hidalgo.
Blue Bossa is a 1991 album by McCoy Tyner released on the LRC label. It was recorded in February 1991 and features performances by Tyner with bassist Avery Sharpe, drummer Aaron Scott, percussionist Raphael Cruz and trumpeter Claudio Roditi. The Allmusic review by Ken Dryden states "Although Tyner is in top form throughout, this is not an important release in his considerable discography, but its low price makes it worth acquiring".
Autumn Mood is an album by McCoy Tyner that was released by Laserlight in 1997. It was recorded in February 1991 and features performances by Tyner with Avery Sharpe, Aaron Scott, Raphael Cruz, and Claudio Roditi recorded for LRC. The album combines two tracks which appeared on Blue Bossa with three performances first released on an LRC album with other tracks by Roland Hanna. The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow calls the album "A good but not essential outing".
This discography of jazz pianist McCoy Tyner contains albums that were released under his own name as well as albums on which he appeared.
Sweet Basil was a jazz club in New York City's Greenwich Village, located at 88 Seventh Avenue South. Founded in 1974 by Sharif Esmat, it was considered among the most prominent New York City jazz clubs of its day. Many jazz albums were recorded live at Sweet Basil, including Cecil Taylor's Iwontunwonsi, McCoy Tyner's Live at Sweet Basil (1989) and Solar: Live at Sweet Basil, and the Jean-Michel Pilc Trio's Together: Live at Sweet Basil. From 1981 to 1992, the club was owned by Phyllis Litoff and her husband Mel Litoff.
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