ProJazz.net

McCoy Tyner Plays Ellington is the sixth album by American jazz pianist McCoy Tyner. It was recorded in December 1964 and released on the Impulse! label in 1965. It features performances by Tyner with his John Coltrane bandmates: bassist Jimmy Garrison and drummer Elvin Jones. Percussionists Willie Rodriguez and Johnny Pacheco appear on four of the tracks. It would be Tyner’s last effort for the label, before signing with Blue Note.

The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 4 stars and stated: “An interesting project that works quite well. … This is an excellent outing that displays both Tyner’s debt to the jazz tradition and his increasingly original style.”

Track listing:
“Duke’s Place” (Ellington, Katz, Thiele) – 3:18
“Caravan” (Ellington, Mills, Tizol) – 3:32
“Solitude” (DeLange, Ellington, Mills) – 5:09
“Searchin'” (Allen, Ellington) – 4:33
“Mr. Gentle and Mr. Cool” (Baker, Ellington) – 6:28
“Satin Doll” (Ellington, Mercer, Strayhorn) – 4:10
“Gypsy Without a Song” (Ellington, Gordon, Lou Singer, Tizol) – 4:58
“It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)” (Ellington, Mills) – 4:02
“I Got It Bad (and That Ain’t Good)” (Ellington, Webster) – 5:57
“Gypsy Without a Song” [Alternate Take] – 6:14
Recorded on December 2 (#8, 9), 7 (#3, 5, 7, 10) & 8 (#1, 2, 4, 6), 1964

Personnel:
McCoy Tyner – piano
Jimmy Garrison – bass
Elvin Jones – drums
Willie Rodriguez – congas & percussion (tracks 1–2, 4, 6)
Johnny Pacheco – percussion (tracks 1–2, 4, 6)

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Released: August 1965
Recorded: December 2 & 7–8, 1964
Studio: Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs
Length: 32:08 original LP
48:26 CD reissue
Label: Impulse!
A-79
Producer: Bob Thiele