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.

Don't Blame Me
McCoy Tyner Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ever since the lucky night I found you
I've hung around you just like a fool
Falling head and heels in love like a kid out of school.

My poor heart is in an awful state now
But it's too late now to call a halt

So if I become a nuisance it's all your fault!

Don't blame me for falling in love with you
I'm under your spell but how can I help it!
Don't' blame me!

Can't you see when you do the things you do!
If I can't conceal the thrill that I'm feeling,
Don't blame; me.

Ican't help it if that doggoned moon above
Makes me need someone like you to love!

Blame your kiss as sweet as a kiss can be
And blame all your charms that melt in my arms
But don't blame me.

I like every single thing about you
Without a doubt you are like a dream
In my mind I find a picture of us as a team

Ever since the hour of our meeting
I've been repeating a silly phrase
Hoping that you'll understand me one of these days.

Don't blame me for falling in love with you
I'm under your spell but how can I help it!
Don't' blame me!

Can't you see when you do the things you do!
If I can't conceal the thrill that I'm feeling,
Don't blame; me.

Ican't help it if that doggoned moon above
Makes me need someone like you to love!

Blame your kiss as sweet as a kiss can be

And blame all your charms that melt in my arms
But don't blame me.

Overall Meaning

In McCoy Tyner's song "Don't Blame Me," the singer expresses their overwhelming love for someone they have fallen head over heels for. The singer acknowledges that they've become a nuisance because of their love, but they can't help it - the person they've fallen for has them under their spell. The singer admits that everything about the person they love drives them crazy with excitement, and they can't deny their feelings any longer. Even the moon above seems to be conspiring against them, making them need someone like the one they love. The singer pleads that they shouldn't be blamed for their uncontrollable emotions, as the person they love has the sweetest kiss and most charming demeanor, but ultimately, the singer cannot be held responsible for their love.

The song "Don't Blame Me" was first recorded in 1940 by jazz vocalist Henry Nemo, with lyrics written by Dorothy Fields and music by Jimmy McHugh. It has been covered by a wide variety of artists, including Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Chet Baker, and Frank Sinatra. McCoy Tyner's version of the song features a fast-paced, energetic piano line that adds a new level of intensity to the lyrics. The song showcases Tyner's masterful jazz piano skills and his ability to bring new life to classic standards.

Line by Line Meaning

Ever since the lucky night I found you
From the fortunate moment of discovering you

I've hung around you just like a fool
I've lingered around you without reason

Falling head and heels in love like a kid out of school.
Falling deeply in love in an immature manner

My poor heart is in an awful state now
My heart is in an unpleasant condition

But it's too late now to call a halt
It's now impossible to stop the situation

So if I become a nuisance it's all your fault!
If I become bothersome, it's your responsibility

Don't blame me for falling in love with you
You're not accountable for me falling in love with you

I'm under your spell but how can I help it!
I'm entranced by you, how can I not be

Don't' blame me!
Again, please don't blame me

Can't you see when you do the things you do!
Do you not realize that your actions cause this

If I can't conceal the thrill that I'm feeling,
I can't hide the excitement that I feel