Forces of Nature: Live at Slugs’ / McCoy Tyner, Joe Henderson (2024)

In 1966, pianist McCoy Tyner, saxophonist Joe Henderson, bassist Henry Grimes, and drummer Jack DeJohnette came together to perform at Slugs’ Saloon in New York City. Slugs’ was a well-known club that shut down due to poor reputation after the murder of trumpeter Lee Morgan took place there in the early hours of February 19, 1972. Regardless, Slugs’ hosted lots of great music, and when Blue Note Records announced they were releasing unheard tapes of the previously mentioned artists, I was extremely excited.

The 1960s was an experimental time for contemporary music, and jazz was no exception. Numerous artists in the genre were working to push the boundaries of what music and performance could be by reframing their approach to improvisation and harmony. This album gives us a glimpse into the formative years of this style of jazz that we still have a hard time defining. Free jazz? Avant-garde jazz? Post-bop? Whatever label you want to put on this album, call it good first.

The album demonstrates unbelievable communication between the players. There are times when they are playing with such intensity that it feels like the microphones are going to clip out (Taking Off). DeJohnette is the real star of this album, catching every quip that the soloists play as if he knew exactly what they were thinking in the moment. I was blown away by the level of virtuosity every musician had to offer; it was a controlled chaos.

I use the word chaos lightly. These musicians performed with precision, guided by a subtle formula embedded in the music that provided them with clear direction. Take for example the track In ‘N Out, a Henderson composition only around a year old at the time. Surprisingly, it is a 12-bar blues, and you can hear a vague essence of blues harmony in both Henderson and Tyner’s solos. This goes to show how incredibly versatile a 12-bar blues is. It proves itself as the foundation of most, if not all jazz.

The album wasn’t all burners. We’ll Be Together Again and Isotope were comparatively slower than their counterparts which helped balance out the energy. We’ll Be Together Again was a beautifully performed ballad that demonstrated the rare skill of never overstepping on what another musician is playing. The music was collaborative through and through, something many beginner and intermediate jazz musicians need to be reminded of.

Despite it being a posthumous album (only DeJohnette is alive), it is not a compilation or remastered album. These recordings have not been heard by the public, which is why I chose to write this review. If you didn’t know Forces of Nature: Live at Slugs’ was recorded in 1966, you might guess that this stuff is recent. It’s that hip.

Best track: Taking Off

Rating: 9/10