MCCOY TYNER
13th House (Milestone)
Reviewed by DJ Johnson

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Fantasy Jazz brings another classic back to life. The label that encompasses so many other great labels dips into the Milestone vault and comes up with this 1980 recording by the legendary pianist and a bevy of friends, including Hubert Laws (flute, piccolo), Airto (percussion), Slide Hampton (trombone), Ron Carter (bass), Jack DeJohnette (drums) and a host of trumpet and sax players worthy of such company. The occassion was the contractual obligation album for Milestone.

Unlike many artists who phone in final performances for a label, Tyner turned in a near masterpiece. Quite a trick since he wasn't working with a band he was particularly familiar with, though with professionals of this caliber magic just happened. All the soloists blazed on the high energy songs (three originals by Tyner, one by Jimmy Heath and one by Frank Foster), but the real reason this is what it is can be heard in the perfect interplay between Carter, DeJohnette and Tyner. It's at once beautiful and technical, moving and curious, and when you add Airto to that rhythm base it becomes something altogether exotic and thrilling.

The album was originally produced by Orrin Keepnews (wasn't everything?), and now Orrin has done the digital mix, so you know the utmost care was taken with the sound quality. I can vouch. It sounds clean and vibrant, only a hint of hiss, and as near perfect as it gets. A lot of that comes down to the fact that Keepnews recorded it right in the first place. Milestone couldn't have been happy about losing a talent like Tyner, but when they listened to what he handed them on the way out the door, I'm betting there weren't any complaints regarding quality, of sound or performance.

© 2003 - DJ Johnson