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Sahara
Studio album by McCoy Tyner
Released	July 1972
Recorded	January 1972
Studio	Decca Recording Studio, New York City
Genre	Jazz
Length	47:55
Label	Milestone MSP 9039
Producer	Orrin Keepnews
McCoy Tyner chronology
Extensions (1972) Sahara (1972) Echoes of a Friend (1972)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings
Down Beat

Sahara is the twelfth album by jazz pianist McCoy Tyner, his first to be released on the Milestone label. It was recorded in January 1972 and features performances by Tyner with saxophonist Sonny Fortune, bassist Calvin Hill, and drummer Alphonse Mouzon. The music shows African and Eastern influences and features all the musicians playing multiple instruments, with Tyner himself utilizing koto, flute, and percussion in addition to his usual piano.

Reception

The AllMusic review by Brian Olewnick states "Tyner would go on to create several fine albums in the mid-'70s, but never again would he scale quite these heights. Sahara is an astonishingly good record and belongs in every jazz fan's collection".

In addition to its critical praise, the album is also considered Tyner's commercial breakthrough; it sold over 100,000 copies and was nominated for two Grammys.

Track listing

All compositions by McCoy Tyner

1. "Ebony Queen" — 9:00
2. "A Prayer for My Family" — 4:48
3. "Valley of Life" — 5:19
4. "Rebirth" — 5:20
5. "Sahara" — 23:27

Personnel

• McCoy Tyner - piano, koto (3), percussion (5), flute (5)
• Sonny Fortune - alto saxophone (4), soprano saxophone (1, 5), flute (3, 5)
• Calvin Hill - bass, reeds (3, 5), percussion (3, 5)
• Alphonse Mouzon - drums, trumpet (5), reeds (5), percussion (3, 5)

References

1. Billboard July 29, 1972
2. ^ Olewnick, Brian. "Sahara". Allmusic. Retrieved February 7, 2012.
3. Swenson, J., ed. (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. p. 194. ISBN 0-394-72643-X.
4. Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 1426. ISBN 978-0-141-03401-0.
5. Down Beat: October 12, 1972 vol. 39, no. 16
6. "Sahara - Credits". Allmusic. Retrieved February 7, 2012.
7. Santosuosso, Ernie (March 15, 1984). "1984 Boston Globe Jazz Festival; McCoy Tyner". The Boston Globe. p. 1. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013. Retrieved February 7, 2012.

• McCoy Tyner albums
• 1972 albums
• Milestone Records albums
• Albums produced by Orrin Keepnews