Monk's Dream

McCoy Tyner is in top form in this solo concert recorded at the 1991 Warsaw Jazz Festival, playing with added energy throughout the set. Although he does play two John Coltrane compositions (a runaway "Giant Steps" and lush "Naima") and a pair of Thelonious Monk's songs (a romp through "Rhythm-A-Ning" and a jaunty "Monk's Dream"), plus moving interpretations of two standards ("Beautiful Love" and "Darn That Dream"), the focus is primarily on his own works. Although Tyner isn't as well-known a composer as his late boss, he has composed many memorable songs, especially the touching ballad "You Taught My Heart to Sing" (which Sammy Cahn contributed lyrics to, making it popular with a number of jazz vocalists). Other highlights include the buoyant "Miss Bea" (a tribute to Tyner's mother), the exotic "Lady from Caracas," and the dazzling "Suddenly." This is one of the lesser-known CDs in McCoy Tyner's discography, though it has been reissued numerous times by different labels under various titles. ~ Ken Dryden