Zen Archives - JAZZ IMPRESSIONS

McCoy Tyner – Valley Of Life

Today we pay tribute to McCoy Tyner, whose work from the 1950s right up until his death earlier this month made him “the most influential pianist-composer in modern jazz,” according to the Penguin Jazz Guide. Best known for his work in John Coltrane’s legendary quartet, Tyner was an extraordinary artist in his own right, recording countless classic albums for the likes of Impulse!, Blue Note and Milestone.

The Ahmad Jamal Trio – Bogota

Immediately following The Awakening, the great Ahmad Jamal moves to Rhodes -as in the electric piano, not the place. The location is the Montreux Jazz Festival, and the 1972 release Outertimeinnerspace is another perfect album; arguably an easier achievement with only two tracks (further performances from this date appear on Freeflight, also on Impulse!), each comprising an entire side of the LP.

The Ahmad Jamal Trio – Dolphin Dance

Five years after Herbie Hancock set sail with his 1965 masterpiece Maiden Voyage, another great pianist released a masterpiece of his own. That pianist was the influential Ahmad Jamal and the album is The Awakening, released in 1970 on Impulse!, which contains a beautiful version of Hancock’s track ‘Dolphin Dance’.