Some would argue that jazz lost a certain something when it decided to leave dance behind and evolve a more sophisticated and purely art driven ethos. Because jazz and dance only co-exist in more formal choreographed settings such as modern dance, yesterday’s sold-out performance at the Kennedy Center by tap dancer extraordinaire Savion Glover (pictured) and the McCoy Tyner Trio was a refreshing departure from the average jazz concert hall experience. From a musical standpoint, there were some moments where the concept fell short, but the positive energy coming from the stage and the sheer enthusiasm of the performers largely overcame these shortcomings.

Since the untimely passing of tap dancing legend Gregory Hines, Glover has become the pre-eminent figure in the world of tap. He is best known for his choreography and performance in the Broadway hit, Bring in ‘da Noise, Bring in ‘da Funk, for which he won a Tony Award in 1996. More recently, he provided the dance movement for the animated feature, Happy Feet.

McCoy Tyner rose to fame playing with jazz icon John Coltrane‘s classic quartet of the 1960s. The 70 year-old pianist began his career as a bandleader with the 1967 release of the seminal The Real McCoy. Over the past 40 years Tyner has released nearly 80 albums under his name, earned four Grammys, and in 2002 the National Endowment for the Arts named him a Jazz Master. His group last night consisted of Gerald Cannon, a bassist who has performed with trumpet wunderkind Roy Hargrove as well as Tyner’s Coltrane-era bandmate, legendary drummer Elvin Jones. Playing drums last night was Eric Kamau Gravatt, an under-appreciated veteran whose dynamic and visually distinctive style has led to gigs with Weather Report and a host of other jazz greats.