McCoy Tyner With Stanley Clarke & Al Foster
As the title declares, pianist McCoy Tyner is matched here with two inspired and inspiring partners, a rhythm section that possesses a light touch and reserves of power. While Tyner has at times sounded like he's pulling a trio in his wake, that never happens here. Instead this trio touches on many of the usual postbop bases with a fresh vitality. The empathy is apparent from the opening "Trane-like," with bassistStanley Clarkeand drummer Al Foster creating a springy rhythmic backdrop that has Tyner's triphammer runs sounding like stones dancing across water. That scintillating performance extends to the standard "Will You Still Be Mine?" and the Afro-Cuban "Carriba," while the pianist takes an expansive view of the blues on his "Goin' Way Blues," mixing traditional and modernist approaches. Clarke is equally adroit, whether accompanying or soloing, playing acoustic or electric. He uses his electric bass sparingly, contributing infectiously funky slap bass to the first take of "I Want to Tell You 'Bout That" and a reverberant lead to his other original, "In the Tradition Of," a tuneful bossa nova that suggestsAntonio Carlos Jobim. But it may be Foster who does the most to make this date as successful as it is. His drumming sparkles, and he prods and levitates the music without ever intruding. The results are deep in the tradition of the piano trio, and it's Tyner's finest outing in the form in many years. --Stuart Broomer