McCoy Tyner

Born 11th December 1938, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

nfluenced by neighbours Richie and Bud Powell, pianist McCoy Tyner led his own jazz group at the age of fifteen and soon began playing with local Philadelphia jazz groups. In 1959 he spent six months with the Art Farmer - Benny Golson Jazztet before working with the massively influential John Coltrane Quartet. After leaving Coltrane in 1966 Tyner led his own trio in New York and recorded for the Blue Note label, a period that produced one of my favourite albums - The Real McCoy.

In 1972 he signed with Milestone and began touring regularly with his group in Japan, Europe and the USA. He took a break in 1978 to join Sonny Rollins, Ron Carter and Al Foster in the Milestone Jazzstars and since then has worked both with a group and as a solo artist.