Speak No Evil
March 2, 2023 9:01 PM Subscribe
On March 2, 2023, Wayne Shorter left us. His influence on the world of music is immeasurable. Take some time to reflect on the abundance of music that he left behind as his legacy:
An early high-profile gig found Wayne in Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, where he began his long tradition of distinguishing himself both as a composer and an instrumentalist. Here's his song "One by One" from the 1963 live recording "Ugetsu".
Wayne later went on to join Miles Davis in his famous 1960s quintet. Wayne and bandmate Herbie Hancock were the main compositional voices in this band that also featured Tony Williams on drums and Ron Carter on bass. Here's Wayne's composition "Nefertiti" from the album of the same name (1968).
All the while Wayne also made records as a leader - spoiler alert: they're all great, but for me the one to start with is "Speak No Evil" and it's monumental opening track, "Witch Hunt" (1966). Here Wayne is joined by his bandmates Herbie Hancock and Ron Carter (from the Miles quintet) as well as John Coltrane's drummer Elvin Jones and trumpeter Freddie Hubbard.
Never one to sit still, Wayne Shorter was a pioneering voice in the jazz fusion movement, as one of the founders of Weather Report, whose most famous song "Birdland" (1977), while not written by Wayne, still bears his unique input.
He also lent his sound to such iconic pop artists as Steely Dan (on Aja, also from 1977) and Joni Mitchell (from her re-recording of Both Sides Now in 2000).
He recorded again with former Miles bandmate Herbie Hancock on 2000's 1+1 - check out Aung San Suu Kyi.
And he and Herbie also offered sage advice in their "Open Letter to the Next Generation of Artists" (h/t Ted Gioia for bringing it to my attention.).
An early high-profile gig found Wayne in Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, where he began his long tradition of distinguishing himself both as a composer and an instrumentalist. Here's his song "One by One" from the 1963 live recording "Ugetsu".
Wayne later went on to join Miles Davis in his famous 1960s quintet. Wayne and bandmate Herbie Hancock were the main compositional voices in this band that also featured Tony Williams on drums and Ron Carter on bass. Here's Wayne's composition "Nefertiti" from the album of the same name (1968).
All the while Wayne also made records as a leader - spoiler alert: they're all great, but for me the one to start with is "Speak No Evil" and it's monumental opening track, "Witch Hunt" (1966). Here Wayne is joined by his bandmates Herbie Hancock and Ron Carter (from the Miles quintet) as well as John Coltrane's drummer Elvin Jones and trumpeter Freddie Hubbard.
Never one to sit still, Wayne Shorter was a pioneering voice in the jazz fusion movement, as one of the founders of Weather Report, whose most famous song "Birdland" (1977), while not written by Wayne, still bears his unique input.
He also lent his sound to such iconic pop artists as Steely Dan (on Aja, also from 1977) and Joni Mitchell (from her re-recording of Both Sides Now in 2000).
He recorded again with former Miles bandmate Herbie Hancock on 2000's 1+1 - check out Aung San Suu Kyi.
And he and Herbie also offered sage advice in their "Open Letter to the Next Generation of Artists" (h/t Ted Gioia for bringing it to my attention.).
Most everyone I've met with a record collection had Heavy Weather.
.
posted by jabo at 9:16 PM on March 2, 2023 [5 favorites]
.
posted by jabo at 9:16 PM on March 2, 2023 [5 favorites]
.
posted by JoeXIII007 at 9:22 PM on March 2, 2023
posted by JoeXIII007 at 9:22 PM on March 2, 2023
.
posted by Going To Maine at 9:32 PM on March 2, 2023
posted by Going To Maine at 9:32 PM on March 2, 2023
From the Guardian piece:
posted by kristi at 9:55 PM on March 2, 2023 [1 favorite]
In 2013 he was honoured with a lifetime achievement award from the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz (now the Hancock Institute of Jazz), telling the audience his vision for music-making: “Try to create how you wish the world to be for eternity; taking off the layers and becoming what we really are, eternally.”Thank you for posting this, fingers_of_fire. I'm glad we can join together here to remember him.
posted by kristi at 9:55 PM on March 2, 2023 [1 favorite]
A giant across many planes. I was lucky to see him once — he played for us in the fullest sense of the word.
posted by Capt. Renault at 10:32 PM on March 2, 2023
posted by Capt. Renault at 10:32 PM on March 2, 2023
.
posted by misteraitch at 10:34 PM on March 2, 2023
posted by misteraitch at 10:34 PM on March 2, 2023
Wayne Shorter, my best friend, left us with courage in his heart, love and compassion for all, and a seeking spirit for the eternal future. He was ready for his rebirth. As it is with every human being, he is irreplaceable and was able to reach the pinnacle of excellence as a saxophonist, composer, orchestrator, and recently, composer of the masterful opera “…Iphigenia “ I miss being around him and his special Wayne-isms but I carry his spirit within my heart always.
— Herbie Hancock
posted by Capt. Renault at 10:34 PM on March 2, 2023 [11 favorites]
— Herbie Hancock
posted by Capt. Renault at 10:34 PM on March 2, 2023 [11 favorites]
If forced, at gun point, to name one album that represents the quintessence of jazz, I’d choose ‘Speak No Evil.’ Immaculate record.
posted by barrett caulk at 10:36 PM on March 2, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by barrett caulk at 10:36 PM on March 2, 2023 [4 favorites]
.
posted by quazichimp at 10:53 PM on March 2, 2023
posted by quazichimp at 10:53 PM on March 2, 2023
•
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 11:15 PM on March 2, 2023
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 11:15 PM on March 2, 2023
.
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 11:47 PM on March 2, 2023
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 11:47 PM on March 2, 2023
.
posted by From Bklyn at 1:52 AM on March 3, 2023
posted by From Bklyn at 1:52 AM on March 3, 2023
.
posted by cupcakeninja at 3:19 AM on March 3, 2023
posted by cupcakeninja at 3:19 AM on March 3, 2023
The classic Shorter/Morgan/Silver line up of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers remains the apex of jazz as far as I'm concerned. When Shorter and Morgan were both cooking, they seemed almost able to read one another's minds.
posted by Paul Slade at 4:50 AM on March 3, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by Paul Slade at 4:50 AM on March 3, 2023 [3 favorites]
thanks for this post, fingers_of_fire. as the dad of a teenage saxophonist, one who's just now moving from playing jazz to wanting to really know it and the people who made it, I was getting ready to do an AskMefi for recommendations. With yr post and oulipian's just a couple of days ago about Dexter Gordon, I'm now (sadly) able to give him great starting points for his exploration.
posted by martin q blank at 6:15 AM on March 3, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by martin q blank at 6:15 AM on March 3, 2023 [2 favorites]
He played only the best notes, and wasted none.
posted by skippyhacker at 6:22 AM on March 3, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by skippyhacker at 6:22 AM on March 3, 2023 [2 favorites]
.
posted by pianoblack at 7:01 AM on March 3, 2023
posted by pianoblack at 7:01 AM on March 3, 2023
His 60's era playing (ex. Yes or No) is another one of my influences.
posted by Greg_Ace at 9:14 AM on March 3, 2023
posted by Greg_Ace at 9:14 AM on March 3, 2023
♪
posted by AsYouKnow Bob at 5:58 PM on March 3, 2023
posted by AsYouKnow Bob at 5:58 PM on March 3, 2023
More from Ted Gioia on Shorter’s most important compositions of the 1960s
I made an Apple Music playlist of these ten tunes:
posted by salishsea at 6:12 PM on March 4, 2023
I made an Apple Music playlist of these ten tunes:
posted by salishsea at 6:12 PM on March 4, 2023
“The Mesmerizing Harmony of Wayne Shorter”—Adam Neely, 13 March 2023
posted by ob1quixote at 7:22 PM on March 13, 2023
posted by ob1quixote at 7:22 PM on March 13, 2023
« Older "He Was Sort of Created From the Heart Rather Than... | When a possum is NOT an Opossum Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by fingers_of_fire at 9:04 PM on March 2, 2023 [12 favorites]