Sahara (McCoy Tyner album)

Sahara
Studio album by McCoy Tyner
Released	July 1972[1]
Recorded	January 1972 Decca Recording Studio, New York City
Genre	Jazz
Length	47:55
Label	Milestone MSP 9039
Producer	Orrin Keepnews
McCoy Tyner chronology
Extensions (1972) Sahara (1972) Echoes of a Friend (1972)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[2]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide	[3]

Sahara is a 1972 album by jazz pianist McCoy Tyner, his first to be released on the Milestone label. It was recorded in January 1972 and features performances by Tyner with Sonny Fortune, Calvin Hill, and Alphonse Mouzon. The music shows African and Eastern influences and features Tyner playing koto, flute, and percussion in addition to his normal piano.^[4]

Reception

The Allmusic review by Brian Olewnick states "Tyner would go on to create several fine albums in the mid-'70s, but never again would he scale quite these heights. Sahara is an astonishingly good record and belongs in every jazz fan's collection".^[2] The album is considered Tyner's commercial breakthrough. It sold over 100,000 copies and was nominated for two Grammys.^[5] It is also often considered Tyner's best album.^[2]

Track listing

All compositions by McCoy Tyner

1. "Ebony Queen" — 9:00
2. "A Prayer for My Family" — 4:48
3. "Valley of Life" — 5:19
4. "Rebirth" — 5:20
5. "Sahara" — 23:27

Personnel

• McCoy Tyner - piano, koto (3), percussion (5), flute (5)
• Sonny Fortune - alto saxophone (4), soprano saxophone (1, 5), flute (3, 5)
• Calvin Hill - bass, reeds (3, 5), percussion (3, 5)
• Alphonse Mouzon - drums, trumpet (5), reeds (5), percussion (3, 5)

References