McCoy Tyner – Together VG+/VG++

Together is a 1979 album by jazz pianist McCoy Tyner, released on the Milestone label. It was recorded in August and September 1978 and features performances by Tyner with an all-star ensemble of musicians, including Freddie Hubbard on trumpet and flugelhorn, Hubert Laws on flute and alto flute, Bennie Maupin on tenor saxophone and bass clarinet, Bobby Hutcherson on vibes and marimba, Stanley Clarke on bass, Jack DeJohnette on drums, and Bill Summers on conga and percussion.

The album showcases Tyner’s diverse and innovative style of composition and improvisation, blending elements of hard bop, modal jazz, Latin jazz, and fusion. The album consists of six tracks, each written by one of the band members. The album opens with Tyner’s “Nubia”, a complex and energetic piece that features a powerful piano solo by Tyner and a fiery trumpet solo by Hubbard. The album also includes Laws’ “Shades of Light”, a lyrical and romantic piece that highlights Laws’ flute playing; DeJohnette’s “Bayou Fever”, a funky and groovy piece that showcases DeJohnette’s drumming and Summers’ percussion; Hubbard’s “One of Another Kind”, a fast and swinging piece that displays the band’s tight interplay and solos by all the horn players; Tyner’s “Ballad for Aisha”, a beautiful and tender ballad dedicated to Tyner’s wife; and Hutcherson’s “Highway One”, a catchy and upbeat piece that features Hutcherson’s vibes and marimba.

Together was a commercial and critical success, reaching number 6 on the Billboard Jazz album chart, number 12 on the R&B album chart, and number 36 on the Billboard pop albums chart.