Great Jazz Albums (IMO) #8

McCoy Tyner, The Real McCoy (1967).  I have been lucky enough to see McCoy Tyner perform solo, in a small group, and in a big band.  He is one of the truly great and influential jazz pianists of the 20th Century.  His playing has been described "as a blues-based piano style, replete with sophisticated chords and an explosively percussive left hand [which] has transcended conventional styles to become one of the most identifiable sounds in improvised music."  The Real McCoy was the album he made after his long and wonderful stint with John Coltrane.  It features Joe Henderson on saxophone, Ron Carter on bass and Elvin Jones on drums.  Every track is a Tyner composition and each one is a classic. [Related posts: Really Great Jazz Albums #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7]