Tyner was born in Philadelphia as the oldest of three children. He was encouraged to study piano by his mother. He finally began studying the piano at age 13 and within two years, music had become the focal point in his life. His early influences included Bud Powell, a Philadelphia neighbor. Among many other things, Tyner's playing can be distinguished by a low bass left hand, in which he tends to raise his arm relatively high above the keyboard for an emphatic attack, creating at times a veritable tsunami of sound. Tyner's unique right hand soloing is recognizable for a detached, or staccato quality, and descending arpeggios, both of a triadic shape and in other patterns. His unique approach to chord voicing has influenced a wide array of contemporary jazz pianists.
Tyner's first main exposure came with Benny Golson being the first pianist in Golson's and Art Farmer's legendary Jazztet (1960). After departing the Jazztet, Tyner joined Coltrane's group in 1960. (Coltrane had known Tyner for a while, and featured one of the pianist's compositions, "The Believer", as early as 1958.) He appeared on the saxophonist's popular recording of "My Favorite Things" for Atlantic Records. The Coltrane Quartet, which consisted of Coltrane on tenor sax, Tyner, Jimmy Garrison on bass, and Elvin Jones on drums, toured almost non-stop between 1961 and 1965 and recorded a number of classic albums, including Live at the Village Vanguard, Ballads, Live at Birdland, Crescent, A Love Supreme, and The John Coltrane Quartet Plays ..., on the Impulse! label.
Tyner has recorded a number of highly influential albums in his own right. While in Coltrane's group, he recorded a series of relatively conservative albums (primarily in the piano trio format) for Impulse, starting with the fleet-fingered Inception (1962), which showcases Tyner's work as a composer. After leaving Coltrane's group, Tyner began a series of post-bop albums released on the Blue Note label, in the 1967–1970 time frame (The Real McCoy, 1967; Tender Moments, 1967; Expansions, 1968; Extensions, 1970). Soon thereafter he moved to the Milestone label and recorded many influential albums, including Sahara (1972), Enlightenment (1973), and Fly With The Wind (1976), which featured flautist Hubert Laws, drummer Billy Cobham, and a string orchestra. His music for Blue Note and Milestone often took the Coltrane quartet's music as a point of departure and also incorporated African and East Asian musical elements. On Sahara, for instance, Tyner plays koto, in addition to piano, flute, and percussion. These albums are often cited as examples of vital, innovative jazz from the 1970s that was neither fusion nor free jazz. Trident (1975) is notable for featuring Tyner on harpsichord (rarely heard in jazz) and celeste, in addition to his primary instrument, piano. Often cited as a major influence on younger jazz musicians, Tyner still records and tours regularly and played from the 1980s through '90s with a trio that included Avery Sharpe on bass and Aaron Scott on drums. He made a trio of mature yet vibrant solo recordings for Blue Note, starting with Revelations (1988) and culminating with Soliloquy (1991). Today Tyner records for the Telarc label and has been playing with different trios, the most recent of which includes Charnett Moffett on bass and Eric Harland on drums.
Tyner was a Sunni Muslim for a period of time beginning at the age of eighteen. His Muslim name was Sulaimon Saud. Today Tyner does not practice a specific religion.
McCoy Tyner was also married at one time and has three sons. His brother, Jarvis Tyner, is a high official in the leadership of the American Communist Party. McCoy, however, is not a pronounced advocate of any political ideology.
Caravan
McCoy Tyner Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The myst'ry of their fading light
That shines upon our caravan
Sleep upon my shoulder as we creep
Across the sand so I may keep
The mem'ry of our caravan
You are so inviting
Resting in my arms
As I thrill to the magic charms
Of you beside me here beneath the blue
My dream of love is coming true
Within our desert caravan
The lyrics of McCoy Tyner's Caravan invoke the feeling of a slow, sensual journey through the desert at night. The opening line, "Night and stars above that shine so bright" sets the scene for a serene, introspective journey. The second line, "The myst'ry of their fading light" is a reference to the ephemeral nature of life and love, and how even the brightest moments will inevitably fade away.
As the song progresses, there's a distinct sense of intimacy between the two people on this caravan journey. The line "Sleep upon my shoulder as we creep / Across the sand so I may keep" speaks to the trust and comfort that exists between the two individuals. The singer wants to hold onto this moment forever, and he knows that he can't do that alone. He needs his partner in this journey with him.
The final lines of the song reflect a sense of wonder and excitement. The singer is thrilled to be with his partner in the midst of this beautiful desert landscape. The phrase "magic charms" speaks to the sense of enchantment that he feels in her presence. The dream of love coming true in the desert caravan is a beautiful metaphor for a journey through life with a beloved partner.
Line by Line Meaning
Night and stars above that shine so bright
The darkness of the night sky is illuminated by the magnificence of the bright shining stars.
The myst'ry of their fading light
The enigma of the vanishing light from the stars makes one wonder about the mysteries of the universe.
That shines upon our caravan
The radiant light of the stars falls on the group of people moving by caravan.
Sleep upon my shoulder as we creep
As we move along slowly and stealthily, you can rest and sleep on my shoulder.
Across the sand so I may keep
As we travel across the desert's sand, I can hold on to you and remember this moment.
The mem'ry of our caravan
This time of our journey while traveling together by caravan will forever be within my memories.
This is so exciting
This experience is truly thrilling.
You are so inviting
You have such a captivating aura.
Resting in my arms
You are taking comfort in my embrace.
As I thrill to the magic charms
I am ecstatic as I am mesmerized by your alluring traits.
Of you beside me here beneath the blue
Beside me here, under the vast blue sky, I am with you.
My dream of love is coming true
The passion between us is becoming a reality, and I couldn't be happier.
Within our desert caravan
This journey we embark on, within our caravan, is bringing us closer together.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RACHEL MARY BERKELEY PORTMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind