Wayne Shorter: Footprints: The Life and Music of Wayne Shorter
Compiled here is a brisk walk through the vast expanse of Shorter's career as pillar of modern jazz and consistently groundbreaking composer. Stops along the way include many of the saxophonist's acclaimed musical landmarks—an early tour with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, his timeless Blue Note recordings of the '60s, peeks at his unforgettable years with Miles Davis, famed flurries of Weather Report, cameos alongside Joni Mitchell and Steely Dan, a duo with Herbie Hancock, and—if you're not yet overcome with inadequacy—much, much more.
Ironically, though, amid the armfuls of genius and creativity is a single, slight snag: flow. With the goal of covering each of Shorter's many mutations, the two discs suffer the plight of mass concision. Just as you ease into Shorter's hard bop beginnings, fusion appears, only to be eclipsed rapidly by jazz/pop, which then cuts sharply into '80s musings and concludes just as suddenly with Shorter's more recent return to earlier forms. And while each composition shines brightly (often blindingly) on its own, the whole is somewhat obscured by the absence of transition.
As a testament to the broad (and still broadening) horizons of Shorter's achievements, this collection is proof that either much more or a little less are needed to bring his singular brilliance into full view.
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- 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
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