I've been listening to a lot of McCoy Tyner lately, so I thought I'd write about his performances on the wonderful John Coltrane minor blues called "Mr. P.C." (written for the bassist, Paul Chambers). I've heard about ten different versions of the tune played by the quartet on various recordings over the years, without ever feeling anything other than astonishment. In fact, it might be the best way to appreciate the artistry of the group, as both the theme and the harmonic structure are very easy to hear. The wealth of ideas, the speed at which they're being found, the powerful sounds that each musician variously harnesses and unleashes always at the service of the whole - it's remarkable stuff. Here's a wonderfully played version (but, unfortunately, not the best recording) in two parts: 1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xz2PzXuxwts 2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umgJi6QXNEg&feature=watch_response

And Tyner, who found a vocabulary with which he could match the dynamic range and power of the others, is still doing it. Here's a link to his upcoming tour dates: http://mccoytyner.com/schedule.html.