Etc.?

One would assume from reading the credits on this cover that there are a lot of musicians
on this album – way too many to list on the cover. But no, the band is a quintet and
the “etc.” refers to a single musician. Who is that unnamed musician? McCoy Tyner.

McCoy Tyner!

How could jazz giant McCoy Tyner be relegated to “etc.” status? At the time Tyner (along
with drummer Elvin Jones who is also on this album) was a member of arguably the greatest
jazz quartet of all time, the John Coltrane Quartet. In fact Night Dreamer was recorded
in April 1964, just two days after the first recording session for the classic Coltrane
album Crescent.

Night Dreamer is itself a fabulous album. Later in 1964 Wayne Shorter was hired by
Miles Davis to join Davis’ second great quintet. The Miles albums of that era (E.S.P.,
Miles Smiles, Sorcerer, etc.) were heavily influenced by Shorter’s ideas and compositions.

I love the Blue Note label, but I really don’t understand this “etc.” flub. Another
uncharacteristic feature is the cover photograph, which I don’t particularly like. It is
by Francis Wolff, who I guess was in an experimental mode that day. His usual photos
of jazz legends are wonderful, and many of them are iconic. Check out this article:
https://www.newyorker.com/culture/photo-booth/the-private-side-of-jazz-music-through-the-eyes-of-a-blue-note-co-founder

In any case, this is a great album from what I think is the greatest
ten year period in the history of jazz recordings: 1956 to 1965.

P.S. Many years ago I saw McCoy Tyner perform a solo concert at one
of Edmonton’s annual Jazz City Festivals. He blew everyone’s hair back.

Best viewed at original size.