After he left John Coltrane's group in the mid-1960s, McCoy Tyner continued to explore the modal territory opened up by Coltrane. His many Milestone albums constitute a sort of library of the modal approach to modern jazz. Focal Point puts the pianist in settings of reeds and percussion. He and producer Orrin Keepnews achieved variety by imaginative use of instrumental combinations. In some cases, the three horns are multiplied through overdubbing, creating dense and intricate textures. A startling exception is "Parody," in which the density is achieved by only Tyner and drummer Eric Gravatt in a performance of unusual energy. In that regard, it recalls Tyner's partnership with Elvin Jones in the Coltrane band. Focal Point has an aura unique to Tyner but different from any of his other recordings.

with Gary Bartz, Joe Ford, Ron Bridgewater, Charles Fambrough, Eric Kamau Gravatt, Guilherme Franco