Three Pianos, One Vision
Tyner's three-piano concept creates a conversation between voices, not a competition for space.
Supertrios is exactly what it sounds like: McCoy Tyner playing with two other pianists at once. Not as a gimmick, but as a genuine exploration of what happens when you put three strong voices at the same instrument. The concept could've been a novelty. Instead, it's surprisingly musical and reveals something about how Tyner thinks about harmony and space. Rather than stepping all over each other, the three pianos establish different registers and textures. One might lay down dense chords while another moves melodically, and the third creates rhythmic momentum. It's orchestral thinking applied to a simple setup.
What makes this work is that Tyner never loses control of the sound. You're hearing three pianists, yes, but they're listening to each other and responding accordingly. The record doesn't feel crowded or competitive. Instead it feels like watching someone explain an idea from three angles at once. The arrangements are inventive without being showy, and there's real swing underneath everything. Some tracks are more experimental than others, but even the exploratory moments have a clear purpose. This isn't Tyner trying to prove something about technique or innovation. It's him working through a musical idea methodically.
This record sits in the middle of Tyner's career, and while it's not his most essential work, it's the kind of album that rewards close listening. If you already know his solo recordings or his work with John Coltrane, Supertrios offers something different without abandoning what makes his playing distinctive. It's not the place to start if you're new to Tyner, but once you understand his approach to harmony and time, this experiment makes real sense. It's a solid, thinking musician's project that actually succeeds at what it sets out to do.
Who's playing
Where next?
More by McCoy Tyner
All 14 albums →
The musicians on this record
Where? 1961
Ron Carter
plays double bass here
plays double bass here
Civilization 1987
Tony Williams
plays drums (drum set) here
plays drums (drum set) here
