JazzWax

McCoy Tyner: Inception

McCoy Tyner should receive as much attention as Thelonious Monk, Oscar Peterson and even Bill Evans. For some reason, he doesn't, and I have no idea why not. Tyner's recordings are as inventive, as rich and as stunning as the other three piano leaders. Of course, Peterson and Monk came up in the late 1940s, and Evans came up in the 1950s, so they had a jump on him. Tyner's trio leadership career didn't begin until the early 1960s, but I can't think of another pianist who best reflects the '60s than Tyner, with his modal turmoil, distinct chord voicings and bounce. Tyner can sound delicate but he also can unleash his fingers in a thundering stampede that's thrilling and cohesive. [Photo above of McCoy Tyner by Francis Wolff (c) Mosaic Images]

Best known as a member of the John Coltrane Quartet in the '60s, Tyner also recorded more than 70 leadership albums starting with Inception. Recorded in January 1962, Inception featured Tyner backed by bassist Art Davis and drummer Elvin Jones. Four of the six songs recorded were written by Tyner: Inception, Blues for Gwen, Sunset and Effendi. The remaining two are standards: There Is No Greater Love and Speak Low.

According to the album's liner notes, Blues for Gwen was named for Tyner's sister, while Sunset was a title suggested by Tyner's wife, Aisha, because the piece "brought to her mind an impression of nature, and because it's a reflective ballad. Sunset seemed the logical title."

The music on this album is extraordinary from start to finish. It's robust, beautiful, tender, assertive, lush, penetrating and determined. His technique of using modal chords and scales to get his point across is framed smartly by Jones on drums. On many of Tyner's albums, there's nothing mannered about him or cliched. His soul is always exposed and his sound is distinctly original. I have all of his solo albums and they are exquisite. I'll be posting about other favorites in the future, but for those unfamiliar, the best place to start with Tyner is at the beginning.

For a full list of Tyner's leadership albums, go here.

JazzWax tracks: You'll find McCoy Tyner's Inception here.

JazzWax clips: Here's the full album...

Autumn, Hal and Count

In The Wall Street Journal this week, I interviewed director Autumn de Wilde for my "House Call" column in the Mansion section (go here). Autumn is the director of Emma, which opened on Friday. The 1815 Jane Austen novel was brought to life by Autumn in a remarkable film shot beautifully in rich pastels. Autumn talked with me about her bohemian parents, how John Sebastian of the Lovin' Spoonful sang her to sleep when she was little, and why being normal was never an aspiration at home. [Photo above of Autumn de Wilde]

Here's the Emma trailer...

SiriusXM. If you missed me on Feedback last week talking about Huey Lewis and the News's The Power of Love with co-host Nik Carter (Lori Majewski had the day off), you can hear me on the show in its entirety for free here...

Hal McKusick. Last week, John Ludlow sent along an email about saxophonist Hal McKusick:

Hi Marc, I just came across this recording of Hal playing in Jimmy Giuffre’s group in 1948. He’s on the first two tracks, with solos on both. Very cool to hear. Thought you might enjoy...

Horn-o-rama. In researching Red Nichols last week, I stumbled upon two killer trumpet clips at YouTube:

 

Here's Red Nichols, Pete Candoli and Al Hirt (pictured above)...

And here's Al Hirt, Pete Candoli, Don Ellis and Dizzy Gillespie...

Director Raymond De Felitta sent along the following:

This month I posted a mini-tribute to the late character actor Kevin Conway on my Movies Til Dawn podcast. Kevin passed away earlier this month, and I had the pleasure and honor of working with him twice—once on my movie Two Family House and more recently in a reading that we did (and recorded) of Murdering Michael Malloy, a movie that we’re planning to make in the near future. I’ve included short audio clips from both.

The reason for the recording of the reading is that my writing/producing partner, David Zellerford, and I are planning on releasing it as a podcast, in the hopes of both entertaining an audience with what amounts to an old-time radio show version of a movie (albeit a yet-to-be-made one) as well as gaining some traction for the production funds for the movie once people hear how wildly entertaining it is. We’ll start airing the podcast of Murdering Michael Malloy this spring. I hope you’ll look for it.

2011 Japan earthquake. Jimi Mentis sent along a link to footage of the 9.1 magnitude earthquake that took place at 2:46 p.m. local time 231 miles northeast of Tokyo in March 2011. The earthquake caused a tsunami with 30-foot waves that damaged several nuclear reactors in the area. It is the largest earthquake ever to hit Japan. The six-minute quake and subsequent tsunami resulted in nearly 20,000 deaths and 2,500 missing. Absolutely terrifying. Go here...

What the heck: Here's the Count Basie Band on the road in 1962 playing Freddie Green's Corner Pocket...

Oddball album cover of the week.

 

Looks like a promotional album for Swissair. Not only are the Batman outfits all wrong (should have been gray tops), they're all wearing Robin's masks. Special thanks to music publicist Michael Bloom.

René Thomas in 7 Clips

For some strange reason yesterday, I had a craving for guitarist René Thomas. I love the way he swings unevenly and the hip quality of his picking and sound of his guitar. Born in Belgium in 1927, Thomas moved to Paris and was deeply influenced by guitarist Jimmy Raney. In the 1960s, he often was featured as part of a trio with organist Eddy Louiss and Kenny Clarke. René Thomas died in 1975.

Here are seven Thomas video and audio clips:

Here's a 1963 recording of Thomas's Meeting...

Here's Meeting live with Thomas, Eddie Louiss on organ and Kenny Clarke on drums in 1970...

Here's Thomas with Louiss on organ, Bernard Lubat on drums and tenor saxophonist Stan Getz in 1971 playing Dum! Dum!...

Here's Thomas with Louiss on organ and Jean Louis Viale on drums in 1969 playing Thomas's Time for Manuel...

Here's Thomas with pianist Maurice Vander,
bassist J.F. Jenny-Clarke on bass and Daniel Humair on drums playing Django Reinhardt's Manoir de mes Rêves in 1971...

Here's Thomas with saxophonist J.R. Monterose, pianist Hod O'Brien, bassist Teddy Kotick and drummer Albert "Tootie" Heath playing Milestones in 1960...

And here's Thomas, Luiss and Clarke playing Nardis in 1968...