About

After his revered tenure within John Coltrane’s “classic quartet”, the great McCoy Tyner went on to have a long and fruitful solo career in his own right.  Extensions, his tremendous 1973 album on Blue Note, while being somehow unfairly neglected,  is an excellent and expansive record inspired by the heritage and culture of Africa.

Key to the album's magic is undoubtedly the unique collaboration between Tyner and his successor in John Coltrane’s band - Alice Coltrane. The combination of Tyner’s keys and Coltrane’s harp offers an astral jazz wonder, prone to lengthy sojourns Joined by alto saxophonist Gary Bartz, tenor saxophonist Wayne Shorter, bassist Ron Carter, drummer Elvin Jones - Extensions is a skillful and subliminal showcase of Tyner’s modal originals. - The Analog Vault

McCoy Tyner looked towards Africa on his stunning 1970 album Extensions, a far-reaching exploration of Black identity that marked the masterful pianist’s fifth recording for Blue Note Records. After leaving John Coltrane’s band Tyner had moved from Impulse to Blue Note and made his enduring post-bop classic The Real McCoy in 1967. In the following years Tyner steadily expanded his musical scope: writing for a 9-piece ensemble on Tender Moments, exploring the textures of a piano-vibes led quartet with Bobby Hutcherson on Time for Tyner, and pushing at the boundaries of mainstream jazz on Expansions. Extensions is perhaps most notable for being the only recorded collaboration between Tyner and Alice Coltrane who plays harp on three of the album’s four pieces (all composed by Tyner) along with Gary Bartz on alto saxophone, Wayne Shorter on soprano and tenor saxophone, Ron Carter on bass, and Elvin Jones on drums.

The expansive opener “Message from the Nile” is the centerpiece of the album with its earthy groove, washes of harp, and journeying improvisations. “The Wanderer” begins in a loping rhythm before transitioning into a galloping swing for the freewheeling solos. Side 2 opens with “Survival Blues,” another extended performance that offers each soloist a wide-open expanse before the album concludes with the impressionistic closing piece “His Blessings.” — (via Label)

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Label: Blue Note Records
Series: Blue Note Tone Poet Series
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo, 180g
Reissued: 2023 (Original: 1973)
Genre: Jazz
Style: Post Bop, Modal

File under: Blue Note Tone Poet Series
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