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Wayne Shorter: Footprints: The Life and Music of Wayne Shorter

By Mark F. Turner
December 24, 2004
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It's an insurmountable task to capture the entire career of one of jazz's living legends on a dual CD release, but Footprints: The Life and Music of Wayne Shorter is a comprehensive attempt that highlights some of the saxophonist's key recordings. If you've been listening to jazz for any length of time, you've more than likely heard Shorter's music. He is debatably more known for his writing and composing, which have produced music that has endured and is recorded by younger artists today, yet 2003's Alegria proved his playing skills are still intact.

The compilation is a jazz history lesson beginning in the '60s with Shorter swinging with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers on "Lester Left Town," followed two tunes later by the sheer beauty of "Infant Eyes" and "Time of the Barracudas" as Shorter performs with the Gil Evans Orchestra, featuring names like Kenny Burrell, Elvin Jones, and Gary Peacock. The unforgettable 1966 release of "Footprints" with the supreme Miles Davis Quintet (Herbie Hancock, Buster Williams, and the magical drums of Tony Williams) is still a delight to hear.

Experimental, electric, and progressive jazz is not a new thing, as Shorter proved on "Sanctuary" from Miles' groundbreaking jazz/fusion recording Bitches Brew with music ahead of its time. This creative flow continued in the early '70s with keyboardist Joe Zawinul and Weather Report on gems like "Mysterious Traveler," "Elegant People," and the classic "Palladium," featuring the late great bassist Jaco Pastorius. Each piece gives further light into Shorter's creative brilliance regardless of era and setting.

The scope of these selections also reflects Shorter's diversity, from the Indian mantra of "Ponta De Areia" to his calculated but smooth sax solo on Steely Dan's pop music hit "Aja."

Critics will undoubtedly bemoan the absence of numerous classics, and some pieces may resonate more clearly than others according to one's past associations with Shorter's music. But as Shorter so aptly states, "This compilation represents the DNA of my full life and work. Those who listen closely will hear a sample of the whole story here."

And what a story it is.

Track Listing

Disc 1: Lester Left Town; Speak No Evil; Infant Eyes; Time of the Barracudas; E.S.P.; Footprints; Nefertiti; Sanctuary; Mysterious Traveler; Lusitanos. Disc 2: Elegant People; Palladium; Ponta de Areia; Aja; Dry Cleaner from Des Moines; The Three Marias; Mahogany Bird; Joy Ryder; Children of the Night; In Walked Wayne; Aung San Suu Kyi; Masquelero.

Personnel

Wayne Shorter

saxophone

Wayne Shorter- leader, tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, baritone saxophone; Art Blakey- leader, drums; J.J. Johnson- leader, trombone; Joni Mitchell- leader, vocal; Gil Evans- leader, piano; Miles Davis- leader, trumpet; Lee Morgan, Freddie Hubbard, Jon Lewis, Rob McGregor- trumpet; Steven Holtman, Robert Payne, Frank Rehak- trombone; Ray Alonge, Julius Watkins, Daniel Kelley, Joseph Meyer, Brad Warnaar- French horn; Bill Barber- tuba; Al Block, Andy Fitzgerald, George Marge, Bob Tricarico, Jim Walker- reeds; Kazue McGregor, Annarenee Grizell, Sarah Weisz- flute; Emily Bernstein, Ralph Williams- clarinet; Gary Bovyer, Lorin Levee- bass clarinet; Joyce Kelley-Clark- oboe; Linda Muggeridge, Leslie Reed- English horn; Dan Faulk- tenor saxophone; Ronald Jannelli- bassoon; Julie Feves, Michele Grego- contrabassoon; Bob Maxwell- harp; Kenny Burrell, Larry Carlton, Walter Becker, Danny Dias, Jay Graydon, David Gilmore- guitar; Bobby Timmons, Michael Omartian, Renee Rosnes, Danilo Perez- piano; Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea- piano, electric piano; Joe Zawinul- piano, electric piano, keyboards, synthesizers, organ; Rachel Z, Geri Allen- piano, synthesizers; Joe Sample- electric piano; Wagner Tiso- electric piano, organ; Patrice Rushen- keyboards; Stu Goldberg- synthesizers; Ron Carter, Gary Peacock, Jymie Merritt, Dave Holland, Dave McDaniel, Chuck Rainey, Nathan East, Larry Klein, John Patitucci, Rufus Reid- bass; Marcus Miller- bass, bass clarinet, conductor; Alphonso Johnson, Gary Willis- electric bass; Jaco Pastorius- electric bass, steel drums; Elvin Jones, Tony Williams, Robertinho Silva, Jack DeJohnette, Will Calhoun, Ishmael Wilburn, Steve Gadd, Victor Lewis, Brian Blade, Skip Hadden, Chester Thompson, Peter Erskine, Terri Lyne Carrington- drums; Leon "Ndugu" Chancler, Alex Acuna - drums, percussion; Bill Summers, Scott Roberts, Dom Um Romao, Alyrio Lima, Manolo Badrena, Lenny Castro, Airto Moreira- percussion; Don Alias- congas; Jumma Santos (Jim Riley)- shaker; Bruce Dukov, Armen Garabedian, Suzie Katayama, Edith Markman, Sid Page, Michele Richards- violin; Robert Becker, Denyse Buffum, Ralph Fielding, Harry Shirnian, Evan Wilson- viola; Larry Corbett- cello; Milton Nascimento- vocal; Donald Fagen- vocals, synths; Tim Schmit- backup vocal.

Album information

Title: Footprints: The Life And Music Of Wayne Shorter | Year Released: 2004 | Record Label: Sony Music

About Wayne Shorter Follow

Instrument: Saxophone

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