Wayne Shorter (1933-2023): An Appreciation
Most may not put Wayne Shorter on the level of Sonny Rollins or John Coltrane, but I do. When surveying the impact he made over 50 years, it’s hard not to.
Most may not put Wayne Shorter on the level of Sonny Rollins or John Coltrane, but I do. When surveying the impact he made over 50 years, it’s hard not to.
A depth of knowledge that comes from long-term research, and Curt Bianchi’s passion for the music of Weather Report, is evident on every page.
Wayne Shorter has delivered a late-period masterpiece: The music on ‘Emanon’ is wonderful, the expectation delivered.
‘I Called Him Morgan’ is a compelling, up-close documentary chronicling of the self-destructive lifestyle of jazz prodigy Lee Morgan.
Steely Dan’s ‘Aja’ set the bar for finesse in pop and rock music, and that bar hadn’t been cleared yet.
Leave it to another groundbreaking veteran like Denny Zeitlin to give Wayne Shorter’s songs tributes that are actually worthwhile hearing nearly as much as the originals.
More than any other album, ‘Speak No Evil’ is the reason why we often put that word ‘legend’ in front of Wayne Shorter’s name.
Here are Steely Dan’s five best sax solos, selected in tandem by our panel of Dan-loving authorities.
Joni Mitchell ended her tenure at Geffen with the lovely and understated ‘Night Ride Home’ — an album that in many ways works in stark contrast to its predecessor.