This single CD reissues all of the music from a former two-Lp set. Pianist
McCoy Tyner's 1974 quintet consisted of the talented youngster Azar Lawrence
on tenor and soprano (who strangely enough never became more famous than
he was at the time), bassist Joony Booth, drummer Wilby Fletcher and percussionist
Guilherme Franco. As is accurately stated in the new liner notes by Neil
Tesser, Atlantis was the final recording from Tyner's last band to be
based on the music of his former boss John Coltrane. While Lawrence (who
was only 20 at the time) derived his style partly from aspects of Coltrane
and the rhythm section is fiery, McCoy Tyner creates some very powerful
and highly original solos, really tearing into some of the more extended
pieces. Recorded live at San Francisco's legendary Keystone Korner, this
set has four of Tyner's modal originals played by the full group, a rendition
of "My One And Only Love" performed by the leader, Lawrence
and Franco as a trio, and a solo piano version of "In A Sentimental
Mood." Essential music that still sounds fresh and adventurous.
(by Scott Yanow, AMG)
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