Tyner Adds Dramatic Depth to Restless Driving Spirit

There’s a constant in the evolution of pianist McCoy Tyner over the last 35 years. Listen to recent reissues from the Impulse! label of his first recordings as a leader and you hear the same restless drive and inextinguishable spirit that Tyner offered during his opening set of a five-night run with his trio before a packed house Wednesday at Catalina Bar & Grill.

Tyner was a member of the John Coltrane Quartet in 1962 when he recorded “Inception” with two Coltrane cronies, bassist Art Davis and drummer Elvin Jones (who plays the Jazz Bakery through Sunday), and “Reaching Fourth” with drummer Roy Haynes and bassist Henry Grimes. Though the sweeping orchestral sound that gave Wednesday’s performance such impact had yet to develop, both albums reveal the fire and tenacity that continue to mark Tyner’s work.

The trio setting continues to serve the pianist well. Bassist Avery Sharpe and drummer Aaron Scott, both of whom have worked with Tyner through this decade, are integral to the sheer wall of sound that Tyner creates. Sharpe especially, with his speed, chordal strums and aggressive way with a solo, stands firm against the pianist’s often overwhelming attack.

The biggest difference heard between Tyner of today and the one recorded in the ‘60s is in the depth of his sound. His involved sense of harmony and use of chords to create tension makes for high drama. The lushness of what he played, sometimes inspired by Debussy, sometimes by Ellington, gave his performance almost symphonic weight. No pianist is better able to strike a mood or touch a nerve.

Tyner’s own compositions, represented here by the fleet, modern “Update” and the smoothly sophisticated “Home,” allowed the trio to shine on seamlessly executed swings of time and temper. But it’s on standards that Tyner’s restless sense of exploration glows brightest.

His solo performance of a heavily disguised “For All We Know,” packed with long embellishments and asides, never once lost its lyrical flow. His formal, sometimes striding, sometimes waltzing style during “I Didn’t Know What Time It Was” was the height of cool. Tyner’s flame, as it did on his first recordings, continues to burn bright.

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* The McCoy Tyner Trio plays Catalina Bar & Grill, 1640 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood; tonight and Saturday, 8:30 and 10:30 p.m.; Sunday, 7 and 9:30 p.m. Tonight $18, Saturday $20, Sunday $16. (213) 466-2210.