McCoy Tyner
During one of my periodic perusals of Pollstar, I noticed that a couple more nationally known headliners have been added to the fall schedule at Finale Music and Dining in Clayton.
For me, the most exciting news was that pianist McCoy Tyner is scheduled to appear at the club on Friday, October 7 and Saturday, October 8. After getting his initial break with Benny Golson, Tyner gained widespread fame in the Sixties as a member of John Coltrane's legendary quartet, and has gone on to become one of the most celebrated jazz piano players in the world.
His use of modal scales, harmonies based on fourths and fifths (or "quartal" and "quintal" harmonies, in music-geek speak), and his powerful yet sensitive approach to the keyboard have been a big influence on several subsequent generations of jazz pianists. I've been a huge Tyner fan since I first heard him on record in the early Seventies, and finally got the chance to see him perform at Jazz at the Bistro a few years back. Though he may have mellowed ever so slightly over the years, Tyner still played with plenty of fire and the result was one of the best jazz piano performances I've ever witnessed.
Also added to Finale's fall lineup is vocalist Steve Tyrell, who will be in town for a five-night stand running Tuesday, September 6 through Saturday, September 10. Tyrell's no innovator, perferring to draw mostly on well-known standards familiar from recordings by Sinatra, Bennett, Mel Torme and many others. However, he does have good taste in tunes and an easygoing, swinging feel as a singer, as well as an appealing presence and a fine backing band. Some people I know don't dig Tyrell, citing his somewhat gravelly vocal tone and limited range, but I've enjoyed what I've heard from him on record, and am looking forward to catching a set or two while he's here.
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