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November 03, 2008 · 0 comments
McCoy Tyner Talks About "Guitars"
For more than a month, McCoy Tyner's latest CD, Guitars, has held the top spot on the JazzWeek charts. This intriguing collaboration, featuring Tyner alongside several of the leading guitarists (or, in the case of Bla Fleck, the leading banjoist) on the current jazz scene, stands out as one more highlight in an illustrious career that first took off some five decades ago. (See more on this CD here.) Recently Tyner gave a press conference to talk about this unusual project. Tomas Pea reports below. T.G.
There is something to be said for an elder statesman who celebrates his 70th birthday by taking a musical leap of faith. Thats exactly what pianist, McCoy Tyner does on his new album, Guitars, a studio throw down with guitarists, John Scofield, Bill Frisell, Derek Trucks, Marc Ribot and Bla Fleck and the stellar rhythm section of bassist, Ron Carter and drummer, Jack DeJohnette. The album and accompanying DVD mark Tyners second recording for McCoy Tyner Music (a subdivision of Blue Note Records) and its one of his finest and most ambitious outings to date.
By any measure the concept for the album was a bold move. All of the participants possess strong voices and the majority of the material was suggested and/or written by the guitarists themselves. And did I mention that there were no rehearsals to speak of? During a recent press teleconference Tyner was asked if at any point he felt like there were too many cooks in the kitchen, to which he replied, I like those cooks because everybody cooks a different dish! We werent looking for differences, we were looking for similaritiesand conceptual blendingand the music reflects that.
Of the group, John Scofield and Bela Fleck are the only two guitarists who have had the distinction of performing with Tyner in the past (though Tyner has no recollection of performing with Fleck). Its obvious from watching the accompanying DVD that Scofield, a wicked improviser and arguably one of the big three guitarists (the other two being Pat Metheny and Bill Frisell) felt at home in Tyner territory. According to one observer, Tyner and Scofields rendition of Blues on the Corner nearly burned a hole in the carpet. In this writers opinion, Mr. P.C. gets an A + for pure, unadulterated swing.
Tyners collaboration with Bill Frisell is at the other end of the spectrum but is no less tasty. Known as the Philip Glass of the Guitar, Frisell constructs rhythms with a laid back, unassuming feel that tends to draw you in and leave you mesmerized. On the tunes Contemplation and the Malian tinged Baba Drama, Tyner rides the rhythm as Frisells music gently unfolds before you.
Tyners bluesy collaboration with Derek Trucks (best known for his work with the Allman Brothers) spans the generation gap. Moreover, its in keeping with Tyners coda that, Its best to let a person be and find a place where they can meet and create something interesting. Here, Tyner and Trucks assume the roles of Sorcerer and apprentice as they tackle Greensleeves and Slapback Blues. If youve ever wondered why the words, Derek Trucks and genius are mentioned in the same breath, there is no need to look any further than these two tracks.
On the surface, Mark Ribot appears to be the most improbable guitarist of the bunch but the free nature of Improvisation 1 and Improvisation 2 transported Tyner back to his early days as a side man with the late, great John Coltrane. According to Tyner, John and I used to do that in the studio all the time. I love playing free. This becomes glaringly obvious as the two create three impromptu duets, all of which are documented on the DVD.
The odd man out is banjo player Bla Fleck, aka the Buddy Rich of the banjo. For reasons only known to Fleck, he insisted on performing My Favorite Things, a tune that most musicians wisely steer clear of. Nevertheless, Fleck not only draws Tyner into the fray, but the two somehow manage to elevate the narrative to an entirely new level. By the way, if you find yourself asking, How does he do that on the banjo? join the club!
When Tyner was asked how he maintains such a high level of musicianship after all these years he simply replied, You have to love it. Its something that I have been doing for most of my life and its a wonderful way to live and make a living. When the subject of his upcoming 70th birthday came up, he humbly remarked, Its just nice to be on the planet for another year! As for future projects, Tyner says he likes keep the door open and keep an eye on who comes through. I dont like to predict, Tyner said, because every day is different. You have to take things day by day, hour by hour and minute by minute.
As producer John Snyder tells it, This is a maximum effort by highly individualistic musicians. If youre up for the challenge I highly recommend that you find a comfortable spot and listen to the album all the way through. No doubt you will agree that this is one of Tyners finest and most innovative recordings to date. Happy Birthday McCoy and many more!
This blog entry posted by Tomas Pea.
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