There is a great idea behind this super-session that makes it work better than most. Not only were a group of old friends assembled to accompany McCoy Tyner, but four of the all-stars contributed compositions to supplement the pianist's originals. Two of the new tunes became classics, Freddie Hubbard's "One of Another Kind" and Bobby Hutcherson's "Highway One," while Hubert Laws's dancing "Shades of Light" and Jack DeJohnette's atmospheric "Bayou Fever" are also strong melodies and provide excellent contrast. There is great soloing throughout (hear Bennie Maupin's tenor on the Hubbard tune and the flugelhornist's beautiful turn on Tyner's "Song for Aisha" for two examples), and the leader galvanizes the whole proceedings with strength and invention, plus a knack for showing off his guests at their best. Tyner albums featuring groups of this size are among his most memorable, and Together belongs with such earlier triumphs as Today and Tomorrow and Expansions near the pinnacle of his discography.

with Freddie Hubbard, Hubert Laws, Bennie Maupin, Bobby Hutcherson, Stanley Clarke, Bill Summers, Jack DeJohnette