Was at a party today and found myself aghast that I couldn’t pull John Coltrane’s piano MVP out of my head for at least 2 hours. Sorry, McCoy Tyner - you’d think after seeing you three times it’d be emblazened into my brain forever. I may need to start poring back over my old Jazz tracks again and brush up. I couldn’t remember drummer Tony Williams’ first name either - saw him at Yoshi’s in San Francisco - amazing how his playing commented on everything that was going on melodically - died way too young right after I saw him.

Here’s Tony with Mcoy - pretty sick

I remember back in ‘91 or so when I popped in Coltrane’s Giant Steps for the first time (which was pre-McCoy and the quartet) and couldn’t make heads or tails of it, but I eventually stuck with it until I could sing every note and it became second nature to me. It was work, but well worth it - my first stab at understanding Jazz and as good place as any for anyone to start.

Of course, this will always be my fave track from that album - Naima - sheer beauty

The classic Coltrane quartet - John Coltrane - Tenor Sax, McCoy Tyner - Piano, Jimmy Garrison - Bass, Elvin Jones - Drums

If I’m trying to be impressive, I’ll tell you that this is a great example of a pedal point

: a single tone usually the tonic or dominant that is normally sustained in the bass and sounds against changing harmonies in the other parts

That’s about as educated as I can sound musically - but it’s the listening that really counts

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