The Miller Center for the Arts was packed to overflowing Saturday night.  The excitement and electricity of anticipation was palpable. We all knew we were in the presence of greatness as McCoy Tyner, the last surviving member of the great Coltrane foursome, took stage and began to play.  From the opener "Fly with the Wind," to John Coltrane’s “Moment’s Notice” (Blue Train album), Tyner performed on grand piano with great artistry and innovation.  His style is versatile and multi-layered, with inventive block chords, right hand octaves, complex single note runs, even some stride piano, at times tender and contemplative, at times majestic and propulsive, always magical and enthralling. Two numbers into the concert, a member of the audience, Jason Miles, put it best when he whispered, “This is as close as we’ll ever get to experiencing John Coltrane.”

The quartet members were magnificent: renowned saxophonist Gary Bartz (Miles Davis, Art Blakey,) bassist Gerald Cannon (Roy Hargrove, Elvin Jones,) and drummer Eric Kamau Gravatt (Weather Report, Joe Zawinul, Wayne Shorter.) The chemistry between these artists was spontaneous yet cohesive, very alive and organic, moving, breathing as one.

At 70, Tyner is still exploring new worlds. His most recent album, Guitars, features Derek Trucks, three other guitarists and banjoist Bela Fleck. His amazing versatility always seeks to incorporate new elements.  This live performance embodied this same spirit of creativity. When Derek Trucks came onstage and performed with the quartet, the mood morphed to accommodate this talented slide guitarist’s bluesy style. Old and new, tradition and innovation, legend and prodigy, riveted by each artists’ performance, we indeed witnessed greatness.