Soul! Live in New York City: Bill Withers and McCoy Tyner’s Rare Convergence of Jazz, Poetry, and Soul

Imagine tuning into WNDT/WNET’s Soul! on December 29, 1971, to witness an unforgettable convergence of artistry. Bill Withers—straight from his debut Just As I Am—takes the stage with voice, guitar, and piano, while poet Mae Jackson offers her verses. Then enters the McCoy Tyner Quartet: Tyner on piano, Joe Lovano on tenor sax, Christine McBride on bass, and Jeff "Tain" Watts on drums. This rare broadcast, produced by cultural visionary Ellis Haizlip, is now preserved on CD via Offbeat as Soul! Live in New York City.

At stake was more than music—it was cultural synergy. Withers, rooted in soul storytelling, and Tyner, a jazz force born from the McCoy Tyner–John Coltrane legacy, formed a duo that spoke both spiritual depth and everyday emotion. The result: a meditative yet vibrant performance that stands out—as one descriptive review put it—as “rich, contemplative, and unforgettable”.

Performance

• Bill Withers — Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards

• McCoy Tyner Quartet

  • McCoy Tyner — Piano

  • Joe Lovano — Tenor Sax

  • Christine McBride — Double Bass

  • Jeff "Tain" Watts — Drums

• Special guest: Poet Mae Jackson, contributing spoken-word interludes.

Track Listing (Disc 1 / Single CD):

1. “Ain’t No Sunshine”

2. “If I Could (I’d Build a Castle)” (poem)

3. “Castles in the Sand”

4. “What Better Way to Say Goodbye?”

5. “Ain’t No Sunshine” (reprise)

6. “When We Were Young” (poem)

7. Interview leading into...

8. McCoy Tyner Quartet jam

9. “Please Don’t Fall” (poem)

10. Bill Withers intro to...

11. “Grandma’s Hand”

12. “Full Grown Man”

13. “Harlem'

Bill Withers (1938–2020), born in West Virginia, rose from humble roots working in aerospace before launching his music career in his early 30s. With hits like “Ain’t No Sunshine,” “Lean on Me,” and “Use Me,” he became a defining voice of 1970s soul: honest, sparing, and deeply felt. Withers's songwriting and emotional presence made him a rare crossover star in both pop and soul realms.

While not in the McCoy Tyner biography database directly, he joined the jazz world many times through mutual respect. His performance here echoes his aptitude for storytelling woven into performance context beyond studio albums and pop charts.

Soul! Live in New York City is not just a concert. It’s an artifact of cultural convergence—visualize live broadcast, jazz improvisation, soul narrative, and spoken word all coalescing into one hour. Limited CD pressing via Offbeat (OFBCD5014), released July 18, 2025, makes it essential for both Withers fans and jazz lovers alike. Though currently out of stock, it's worth waiting for or requesting—a hidden gem of early ’70s Black artistic expression.