Music on the Web (UK)

Webmaster: Len Mullenger

[ Jazz index ] [Nostalgia index]  [ Classical MusicWeb ] [ Gerard Hoffnung ]

McCoy TYNER Jazz Roots TELARC DSD CD-83507 Crotchet	Dave BRUBECK One Alone TELARC DSD CD-83510 Crotchet
A Night in Tunisia Pannonica My Foolish Heart Don't Get Around Much Anymore Blues for Fatha Sweet and Lovely Lullaby of Birdland You Taught my Heart to Sing Happy Days Rio Summertime St Louis Blues Ain't Misbehavin' Misty	That Old Feeling I'll Never Smile Again One Alone You've Got me Crying Again Someone to watch Over Me Just Squeeze Me Harbour Lights Things Ain't What the used to be Summer Song Red Sails in the Sunset. Weep No More Bye Bye Blues Over the Rainbow

 

After a preliminary playing of these two solo piano CD's, I decided to review them together because of a number of similarities. They were made in the same recording studios in Stamford, Connecticut, Tyner's in two days and Bruebeck's over a three year span. Dave's last session in Feb 2000 and McCoy's in June of the same year, they probably used the same piano.

What came as a surprise to me, was that the two albums are not anything like as different as I would have expected. The classically trained Brubeck has always had a somewhat unique approach to improvisation and Tyner after all, was the pianist on some of the worst of Coltrane, the part that borders on anti-music

What you soon discover, is that you are listening to two Keyboard Giants playing a selection of some of the finest standard tunes and creating music of real beauty. The sleeve note says that Brubeck uses a very analytical approach to his solo piano playing, examining every chord, and perfecting every change. For all we know Tyner may have done the same, but being the 'master jazzer' he is, he may have gone straight to the studio and played the tunes, such is his command of the instrument.

Each CD adds up to about one hour of excellent solo piano music, they both gave me great pleasure to listen to. Which did I like best? I really don't know; I'm still surprised by the similarities.

Four Stars in each case.

Don Mather

Don Mather is a Saxophone Player and bandleader in Coventry, UK