Alfred McCoy Tyner (December 11, 1938 - March 6, 2020) was a jazz pianist f… Read Full Bio ↴Alfred McCoy Tyner (December 11, 1938 - March 6, 2020) was a jazz pianist from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, known for his work with the John Coltrane Quartet and a long solo career.
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.
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.
Contemplation
McCoy Tyner Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Contemplation' by these artists:
Aeveron Slumbering in the silence that gave birth to me, I lay…
alliteration I'm analyzing myself So I can figure out what I'm…
Hearse In times of war and death Mankind seems so lost The hour…
J.V. Lightbody I've been searching on my own Found no place to call…
Kayez It's been a long time since a motive Step in the…
Kučka Cleared a space in my mind Settled with nothing no sensory T…
n.c.h I've been searching on my own Found no place to call…
R.O.M.A.N. I've been searching on my own Found no place to call…
Roxaane Je crois bien que j'ai détruis un si beau cœur…
Up Front Caught my reflection the other day, but I was nowhere…
Yearning Can you draw a line between self and world And bear…
We have lyrics for these tracks by McCoy Tyner:
'Round Midnight It begins to tell 'Round midnight, midnight I do pretty we…
Ain't Misbehavin' No one to talk with All by myself No one to walk…
Autumn Leaves The falling leaves drift by the window The autumn leaves of…
Caravan Night and stars above that shine so bright The myst'ry…
Don't Blame Me Ever since the lucky night I found you I've hung around…
Good Morning Heartache Good morning heartache, you old gloomy sight Good morning he…
Hannibal Ah ya e ya Ah e yea ya Oba ibo si areo Ergua…
Here's That Rainy Day Maybe I should have saved those left over dreams Funny, but…
Home You'd be so nice to come home to You'd be so…
How Deep Is the Ocean How much do I love you? I'll tell you no lie How…
I Got It Bad Though folks with good intentions Tell me to save my tears W…
I Mean You How did I know that the warmth of the glow…
If I Were a Bell Ask me how do I feel, Now that we're cosy and…
In A Sentimental Mood In A Sentimental Mood I can see the stars come…
Inception S.P.O.C.K Miscellaneous Dr McCoy Senior ship's surgeon since…
It Don't Mean A Thing It don't mean a thing If it ain't got that swing (doo…
Like Someone In Love Lately, I find myself out gazing at stars, Hearing guitars…
Lullaby of Birdland Lullaby of Birdland, that's what I Always hear when you…
Miss Bea مفضش بيا بس انا قربت امل غلطه واحده وتقضى على اللى…
My Funny Valentine My funny valentine Sweet comic valentine You make me smile…
My One And Only Love The very thought of you makes my heart sing Like an…
Old Devil Moon I look at you and suddenly Something in your eyes I…
Prelude To A Kiss If you hear A song in blue Like a flower crying For the…
Satin Doll Cigarette holder, which wigs me, Over her shoulder, she digs…
Solitude In my solitude You haunt me With dreadful ease Of days go…
Someone to Watch Over Me There's a saying old says that love is blind Still were…
Speak Low Speak low when you speak, love, Our summer day withers away …
St Louis Blues I hate to see that evening sun go down I hate…
Star Eyes Star eyes, That to me is what your eyes are, Soft as…
Sweet And Lovely Sweet and lovely sweeter than the roses in May Sweet and…
There Is No Greater Love There is no greater love Than what I feel for you No…
Things Ain It don't mean a thing If it ain't got that swing (doo…
You Stepped Out Of A Dream You stepped out of a dream You are too wonderful to…
You Taught My Heart To Sing We meet and it begins The sound of violins The song of…
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