McCoy Tyner - Dimensions (1984)

ELEKTRA/MUSICIAN MONTH (FEBRUARY 2023)

NEA Jazz Master McCoy Tyner released over 70 albums during his career, but this 1984 effort was the only one to appear on the E/M label. What is notable about Tyner is the fact that, while many keyboardists had abandoned the piano in the '80s in favor of the synthesizer, Tyner stayed true to his pianistic roots. Other than that, as noted in the reviews below, the music on this album is "comfortably familiar." And if you like Tyner's percussive approach to playing the piano rooted in hard bop origins, that is good news, indeed.

Caveat emptor! Unfortunately, the transfer to CD is not good. I'm guessing the master tape had stretched and by the time this version was pressed in 2005, maybe the technology to correct such things with a click of a mouse wasn't yet available? Whatever the reason, the final two tracks are unlistenable because the stretching leads to sliding variable pitch changes. Sadly, in a rush to collect all 56 Elektra/Musician releases, this emptor did not caveat. I suppose I'll keep an eye out for an original 1984 vinyl pressing.

Tyner - piano
Gary Bartz - alto saxophone
John Blake - violin
John Lee - bass
Wilby Fletcher - drums

Reviews/ratings:

• Billboard: "a return to form"
• Downbeat (★★★½): "unpretentious and accessible; with a mix of new tunes and standards "
• The Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz (1999): ★★★★

E/M releases, March 1984

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: Did not chart
• Billboard Jazz: #43
• CashBox Jazz: #18
• Radio & Records Jazz Airplay: #4

Tracks: Tyner briefly describes each track in the CD's liner notes. There's good band chemistry in the quintet throughout. Top tracks are a tasty solo piano take on Ellington's Prelude To A Kiss, the Latin-flavored Precious One and the straight ahead Just In Time. It's a shame the final tracks are "warped" as track 5, Understanding, would probably be my favorite on the album.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Things Ain't What They Used To Be (1990)