“Tyner is one of the most brilliant pianists and commanding leaders in modern music.” —DownBeat
“The emergence of Chris Potter as one of the most dynamic young players in jazz has been fascinating to behold.”
jazz giants
—Chicago Tribune
“Few contemporary artists can match James’ smooth voice, head-nodding beats and cosmic atmospherics.”
» October 16: The Gentle Side of John Coltrane
—Los Angeles Times
McCoy Tyner with Chris Potter & José James
Chris Potter
José James
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McCoy Tyner isn’t just jazz piano royalty, he’s an overpowering presence whose music has helped shape the evolution of jazz since the early 1960s. Though his ringing, spiritually charged sound has changed little since his epochal five-year tenure in John Coltrane’s “classic” quartet, Tyner has hardly stood still. Having absorbed a global array of influences from Brazil, West Africa and the Caribbean, he’s played an essential role in expanding jazz’s expressive palette, while writing more than a dozen bona fide jazz standards. For this performance Tyner revisits the classic 1963 Impulse! album John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman, a session that paired Coltrane with the highly underappreciated baritone crooner. Joining Tyner’s trio for the event is Chris Potter, one of the most influential saxophonists of his generation and someone well-equipped to step into Trane’s oversized shoes. And the rising vocalist José James has embraced the formidable challenge of honoring Hartman, who passed away in 1983. A deeply soulful singer with a strong affinity for jazz, James released the acclaimed standards session For All We Know last year, cementing his status as one of the most exciting new voices on the scene. This is certain to be an evening that will live on in jazz history. sunday, October 16, 7PM • herbst theatre • 30 / 50 / 75 premium
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