The ULTIMATE Jazz piano showdown - Herbie Hancock vs McCoy Tyner

I'm talking about the era of Coltrane's blazing Quartet and Miles's Wayne Shorter period.

Who takes the bronze star for heroic jazz piano?

McCoy's music has been more fruitful, a constant source of inspiration for him and his collaborators.

Herbie has always had delicate time. He is a fine musician, but having heard both pianists live, my opinion is that whereas Herbie Hancock is gifted and sometimes breathtaking, McCoy Tyner's music is transcendent.

I have never seen Hancock, but I definitely agree with your assessment. I can think of very few pianists who can *play better* than Herbie. But Tyner's playing is so creative, so evocative -- the very things that made him the perfect accompanist for Trane has made him a compelling solo artist.

especially "nights of ballads and blues" - he does a killer 'Round Midnight. ANybody who can do a Monk song that stands up to Monk is AWESOME in my book

transcended genres and has been at the cutting edge - always evolving and pushing the envelope. Have you heard his later stuff?

You're right his music evolves, and that he transcends genres. But that's not what I meant by transcendent. For me, being enveloped in McCoy's music, it's like being transported to another world, with its own pulse and color and feeling. It's wrenching.

McCoy's recordings do not do justice to his music. It's not just the harmonics, but his command of the whole soundspace. It's visceral and brilliant at once.

I know that McCoy was in the greatest band ever (funnily enough, Herbie was in the other greatest band ever), and I've seen him play live probably a dozen times or so, and he is always incredible. His intensity is greater than Herbie's.

Herbie, though is to me a more varied player. More playful, more funky, and while he's often veered into some commercial crap, hey that's what will happen when your trying out new things. (I also don't begrudge a Jazz genius from picking up a few bucks when he can, re Wes Montgomery). While McCoy grimly pounds out ModalMania, Herbie actually seems to be having fun. And while McCoy did some awesome solo work, I don't think any of his solo albums are (IMHO of course) as fine as "Maiden Voyage" or (my favorite) "My point of view". Even that Rocket stuff was pretty fun live.

Anyway they're both geniuses and I hope they both live forever. I love the McCoy/Herbie debate.

Hancock has more breadth, but I think Tyner has more depth. He has a very personal sound, and it's muscular and forthright.

Hancock to me always sounds like an accompanist.

But I should also admit that I'm not a big fan of piano-- I don't even particularly enjoy Bill Evans, I recognize he's gorgeous in a Debussyan sort of way but I am not moved. I like the primitivists like Thelonious Monk (and, I would argue, Carla Bley).

And, heresy of heresies, I'm lukewarm about Miles.

I've seen both of them several times. And McCoy has better chops.

or Monk. ( just listened to some Evans as an antidot to all that punk I gulped down this am)

Sorry, I am in that kind of mood. :)

They're both very close to the spirit of Monk, so they're both ok by me. But, Tyner was a little more rhythmically adventerous. Herbie takes a lot of harmonic risks, but he plays with the drummer and bassist more than Tyner. Tyner was a polyrhythmic piano player.
The Professor