Looking Out

Pianist McCoy Tyner's second Columbia LP's was a bit of a misfire. A surprisingly commercial effort with the vocals of Phyllis Hyman and unnecessary contributions by guitarist Carlos Santana and (on "I'll Be Around") the synthesizer of Denzil Miller along with unidentified strings and horns, the music is quite forgettable. Tyner plays well and with as much passion as usual but one can clearly sense that not all of the musicians were recording the music at the same time for they rarely react to each other's presence. One of the great pianist's weaker efforts. ~ Scott Yanow