Sahara - McCoy Tyner (1972)

One of the great jazz pianists, Tyner was a mainstay of Coltrane’s various groups, as well as leading his own sessions and working with nearly every other prominent jazz man of the age (always men with the old jazz guys. No Dorothy Ashby collab. I think sometimes the whole world of 60s and 70s jazz was scared of girls).

This session is considered one of his best. I’d have to agree. Driven by the drumming of Alphonse Mouzon and featuring lesser known (to me, anyway) guys on sax and bass, Each bandmember takes turns on different instruments as well as working with their usuals.

The sound is definitely modern bop, but it’s filtered through what free jazz changed about “serious-sounding” jazz, as well as Tyner’s long association with Coltrane’s music and worldview.

Tracks I Liked

A Prayer For My Family - sounds like an extremely busy Keith Jarrett improv

Valley Of Life - Features Tyner on the Japanese koto. That’s what he’s holding on the album cover.

Rebirth - full on hard bop with modern standards of demanding tonality