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Endangered Species

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Michael William Gilbert

Label: Gibex Recordings
Released: 2025
Duration: 00:05:06
Views: 224

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Endangered Species

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“Endangered Species” was written by Joseph Vitarelli for the legendary saxophonist and musician Wayne Shorter and recorded on the WS album "Atlantis". I’ve rarely worked with other people’s compositions, and never recorded one. I had been thinking about it lately, decided it was time to take on the challenge of recording a cover, and remembered this track. It's from a Wayne Shorter album I really got into listening to when it first came out! I transcribed the original track a few years ago, and then didn't yet feel ready to do it justice. After having put together some of my more recent fusion influenced work I felt better prepared, and shaped my version/arrangement — both as a reflection and as a reimagining. I imagine it more as an electronic music piece rather than as a fusion piece...and of course in the end it's all just "music"! Rather than attempting to replicate WS's singular soprano saxophone sound and technique, I reinterpreted the lead with a hybrid synth/sample approach. While I can’t say exactly what Wayne and Joseph had in mind when naming the piece "Endangered Species", the phrase carries a weight that extends beyond other life forms. In a darker sense, we may find that it applies to us.

Album uploaded by Michael Gilbert