Album Review: McCoy Tyner - Sama Layuca (1974)

I first found this particular album when looking through the discount Jazz section at Melbourne's Wax Museum Records back in 2016 or 2017. For some reason, the cover captured my attention, being drawn to it's delicate, soothing yet mystical simplicity. Though I was unfamiliar with Tyner's music, I had heard the name, associated with John Coltrane (being one of his most prominent pianists). At a cheap $15 I saw it as a minor investment for a potentially big payoff. I was correct. 

McCoy Tyner, like many of the true jazz greats, has had quite an exceptional career, pushing the boundaries of the genre into uncharted territory with such mastery purely out of the sheer thrill of artistic exploration. Starting in more traditional forms of jazz such as bebop, Tyner quickly turned to more spiritual sounds and worldly influence, making many albums inspired by African musical traditions (such as Asante and Sahara). Sama Layuca continues this exploration, pushing into the realms of the Latin and even Arabic. Recorded over a three day period at Generation Sound Studios in New York in 1974, the album takes the listener on a ride full of rises and falls throughout contrasting dimensions while still keeping the listener thoroughly enthralled.  

Track by track

1. Sama Layuca

Catching the listener off guard, the album begins with a cascading call of energetic rhythms and melody lines bellowing from adventurous woodwinds and tremendously urgent bass and piano lines. Tyner's efforts at the keys really stand out here and he does well to exhibit the limitless capacity of his talent. His solo mirrors the energy of the track to a tee whilst still holding its own special individuality. Bobby Hutcherson's work on the vibes on this one really offsets a delightful touch of delicacy to the fantastically jarring soundscape. Sama Layuca feels like entering a peyote-induced fever dream deep in the heart of the Amazon. Sit back, relax, enjoy the ride and relish in your own introspection and stay open to any epiphanies that may be waiting for you behind the trees melting around you. 

2. After The Rainbow

In After The Rainbow, the chaos induced by Sama Layuca is subsided as we are introduced to Tyner's  marvellously hypnotic piano work. Again, Hutcherson does well to compliment Tyner. It ceases to amaze me what sounds and emotions can be produced from two instruments (piano and vibes only). Running at 3 minutes long, we are given a bite sized portion of spirituality. As beautiful and delicious as it is, I only wish it was a full meal so I could enjoy the taste longer. 

3. La Cubana

What an intro. Shout-outs to mans Buster Williams on the double bass here. Oh here comes the chaos, the peyote is back! This track is also fantastic. While the cutting-edge polyrhythms are enticing, the true beauty comes from those elegant shifts of melodies where Mtume's congas swing like rolling thunder. Like a (un)healthy dollop of gangrene, this sh*t is completely infectious. Like Sama Layuca, the same sense of urgency is recreated, but with an almost sweet sense of discomfort that allows the listener to be swept up on the experiential ride. Oh sh*t, Hutcherson tears up those marimbas. Get it mf, get it! Drums go off too. Everything goes off. Lick the toad mf. 

4. Desert Cry

Now this song is sweet. An ode to the aforementioned Arabic style here, Desert Cry gives another glimpse into the spiritual sector. Again let it guide your reflections and inner meditations. Listening to this song feels like your traveling somewhere purposeful no matter where you are. Whether you find yourself in foreign unknown lands or pursuing an inner question of progression, Desert Cry is there to accompany you and guide the journey. After this review I think ill go for a long stroll in the park. This will be the first song I play. Hopefully I inspire some to take up the same practice. 

5. Paradox

Bring us home Tyner! And what a sweet homecoming it feels like. Though we are coming out of our everlasting peyote trip the magnitude of the extent of life's beauty still clings to our essence. It feels so good we want to cry....no, just me? Paradox takes the listener on a ride that teeters in and out of the verge of comfortability while still maintaining its grip on our spirits....for a while at least. While I do love this album immensely, I will admit that Paradox runs a bit too long for my personal taste at sixteen minutes. Perhaps I am yet to acquire the ear for 'uncomfortable' nuance of this particular example of modal jazz, but if you ask me I reckon Tyner should have donated some of that vinyl space to extending After the Rainbow, but hey, he still did a bang up job. 

Final words

All in all, I give this album 4 out of 5 toad licks. In all seriousness this is one of my favourite bodies of jazz work. I love the experimentation of Latin flavours and I love the highs and lows Tyner directs us through throughout the spiritual rollercoaster. Play this next time you're feeling introspective and energetic, or when you're out walking in nature, or when you're licking toads. (Don't do drugs kids).  

Favourite tracks: Desert Cry, After The Rainbow & Sama Layuca

Spotify link: https://open.spotify.com/album/74JxnRC4sJf0brcrya2ibP?si=SFJojTmCRWmYjrZQrNTLew&dl_branch=1 

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