Every time a great musician has passed away, I strongly feel that “an era has gone by.” Wayne Shorter, who died on March 2nd this year at the age of 89, was undoubtedly one of the greatest maestros of jazz in the 21st century. Since his dashing debut in the early 1960s at the height of the hard bop era, he has pushed forward his music proactively always looking for new sounds and creating unknown timbre. From bop to fusion to electric...—in a music world which had changed rapidly with the tide, He was a musician always at the forefront with an unaltering adventurous spirit. He was highly regarded not only as a saxophonist, but also as a composer, and had won many Grammy Awards. Most recently, “Endangered Species” from “Live at the Detroit Jazz Festival” won the Grammy for “Best Improvised Solo” in 2023. I would like to remember Wayne’s glorious achievements through his diverse career by selecting his three signature albums which marked an era.

#211 Signature Album of Young Passionate Wayne

Juju+2 / Wayne Shorter
(Blue Note ⇒ Universal Music UCCU-5692)

Wayne Shorter’s career at the forefront began with the Jazz Messengers in the early 1960s, and took a further leap forward when he was selected for the Miles Davis Quintet in the autumn of 1964. Wayne’s second album for Blue Note, “Juju,” was recorded just before he joined the Miles’ band. He majestically expresses individuality by blowing a horn, which approaches us with great force. His swirling passionate phrases are an extension of the hard bop mode but they cannot be captured only within that framework.

His mysterious view of the universe is well expressed. All the songs performed are his original compositions, and his unique talent as a composer is also on full display. The title track is based on the theme of a West African incantation, and the groove emanates at a slow tempo in ＜Deluge＞. The contemplative ballad ＜House of Jade＞ and the thrilling modal style ＜Yes or No＞ are also included. It is interesting to note that McCoy Tyner (piano) and Elvin Jones (drums), regular members of the John Coltrane Quartet of the time, are performing behind him, and it is amazing to see how wildly Elvin stirs things up and how passionately everyone gets excited. This is one of the representative works of the young Wayne, who still impresses us with numerous performances showing how he was trying to develop his one and only world.

#212 Thrilling Masterpiece of Weather Report—Mostly Live performances

8:30 / Weather Report
(Sony Music SICJ-123)

After leaving Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter teamed up with keyboardist Joe Zawinul to form "Weather Report" in 1971. The members’ personalities freely intermingled with Zawinul’s expansive synthesizer and were sublimated into a group expression with bold improvisations—a thrilling moment of creativity that had never been experienced before in jazz.

Weather Report’s music also had a major influence on what is now known as “fusion” music. “8:30” was recorded between 1978 and 1979 with bassist Jaco Pastorius, and features the title number of the popular album, “Black Market,” and live performances of ＜Birdland＞ and ＜A Remark You Made＞ from “Heavy Weather,” as well as four new songs recorded in the studio. Wayne’s soprano sax and Jaco’s bass intertwine vividly on ＜Teen Town＞. The bass solo ＜Slang＞ using a loop tape, and many other highlights are included. This is a masterpiece that also won a Grammy for “Best Jazz Fusion Performance.”