The Philadelphia raised McCoy Tyner made his debut with the Jazztet of Art Farmer and Benny Golson, but after six months he was filched from that band by John Coltrane. Tyner became world famous because of his contributions to Coltrane’s music in the sixties. He was the piano improviser of the legendary Coltrane band with Elvin Jones and Jimmy Garrison, the quartet that gave birth to all those beautiful records like My Favorite Things and A Love Supreme. After he left Coltrane, Tyner almost exclusively worked as a sideman. When he signed with the Milestone label, and started recording his own albums, he finally got the recognition as one the greats of jazz. He played Ellington, Latin jazz, big band music, solo recitals, trio gigs – you name it, he did it. Tyner’s chord voicings have been accurately studied by young pianists. For the festival the pianist has put together a remarkable septet with a numer of top musicians including trumpeter Wallace Roney, trombonist Steve Turre and bassist Charnet Moffett.
