Classic Blue Note Recordings

Classic Blue Note Recordings Artist: Wayne Shorter
Label: Blue Note Records
Category: Music



Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 2


UPC: 724354085628
EAN: 0724354085628
ASIN: B00006J3KY


Release Date: 2002-10-22

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Listmania:

  1. A starter collection that will keep you busy for years-
  2. Essential Wayne Shorter

Tracks:

  1. Black Nile
  2. Yes Or No
  3. Speak No Evil
  4. Infant Eyes
  5. Witch Hunt
  6. Angola
  7. Etcetera
  8. Adam's Apple
  9. Footprints
  10. Tom Thumb
  11. Super Nova
  12. Calm

Tracks:

  1. The Chess Players
  2. Lester Left Town
  3. Ping Pong
  4. United
  5. Marie Antoinette
  6. Children Of The Night
  7. Contemplation
  8. Rio
  9. Limbo
  10. Nefertiti

Similar Items:

  1. Adam's Apple
  2. Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall
  3. One Down, One Up: Live at the Half Note
  4. Beyond the Sound Barrier
  5. Footprints

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars flawed compilation of (mostly) timeless music.......2006-08-11

The concept behind this 2 CD compilation seems sound enough: give the new (or relatively new) listener a substantial taste of Wayne Shorter's music recorded for Blue Note. Basically, that means a sampling of his work with Art Blakey (6 cuts on CD 2), his work as sideman for other Blue Note artists (2 cuts on CD 2) and a whole disc (CD 1) devoted to the recordings made as leader. Given that Shorter's recorded legacy, particularly during the 1960's, produced some of the greatest music in jazz (or any other) history, this undertaking would seem to be a sure thing. Unfortunately, there are a few problems that can't help but mar the collection.

The more minor problem concerns the tune selections for the solo albums; while the first 7 (including 3 tracks from the timeless "Speak No Evil" album) make abundant sense, the inclusion of two tunes in the soul jazz vein ( a la "Watermelon Man") is a gaff. Don't get me wrong, "Adams's Apple" and "Tom Thumb" are fine pieces; however, one would have sufficed, especially as it would have made room for another beautiful Shorter ballad ( eg, "Teru" or "Miyako" ), which is an area of writing for which Shorter is particularly renowned. Finally, concerning the last 2 tracks from CD 1: "Supernova" (from the 1969 album of same name) is an excellent choice, with Shorter displaying his (soon to be famous) golden-toned, quicksilver-style soprano (in a different, looser group context). But, "Calm" (from 1970's "Odyssey of Iska") is not only too brief but features Shorter on tenor; given that the vast majority of previous tracks on CD 1 showcased his tenor playing, it was a mistake to include yet another. The collection would have been stronger had there been another soprano track from "Supernova" (the album is, incidentally, an underrated masterpiece). So, from my perspective, there were some lost opportunities due to poor planning.

The same sort of problems obtain on CD 2: the selections from Shorter's years with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers are superb- they couldn't have picked better. The tunes he recorded as sideman (for Freddie Hubbard and Lee Morgan) are also good, though this compilation's criteria for inclusion (only including pieces that Shorter composed) deprived the listener of hearing one of Wayne's greatest solos, on "Peresina" (from McCoy Tyner's 1968 album "Expansions"). Be that as it may, the real gaff was made by venturing out of the 1960's and including 2 tunes from the 1980's, neither of which can be justly termed "classic". Certainly the live (Montreux Jazz Festival 1986) performance by Shorter, Jim Hall and Michel Petrucciani is interesting, but "Nefertiti" is a decidedly mediocre affaire- aside from some nice tenor lines, this arrangement has a kind of Southern California, wine & brie, smooth-jazz feel. Wayne is obviously free to do as he pleases, but it is exceedingly ironic that such a treatment would be afforded to this particular tune, one of his most mysterious and aesthetically refined creations.

As a great admirer of Wayne Shorter, I truly believe this compilation could have, with a little more foresight, been excellent (doing justice to the "classic" status mentioned in its title). As it is, it can only rate as a *good* (not great) effort. However, in the end, this release may well have enough going for it to satisfy a listener new to Shorter's Blue Note period.

N.B. another multi-disc release, a reasonably priced grouping of three of Wayne's best solo albums ("Juju", "Speak No Evil, "Adam's Apple" ) offers better value. For just a little more of an investment, an interested listener could also dip into Shorter's work with Art Blakey by picking up either "The Big Beat" or "Roots and Herbs", outstanding for the sheer excellence of the playing and the quality of Shorter's compositions.

Music CD:

  1. My Favorite Django ~ Bireli Lagrene
  2. Laurita ~ Richard Galliano
  3. We Do It Diff'rent ~ Frank Foster
  4. In Concert ~ Soprano Summit
  5. Lay It on the Line ~ Sam Riney
  6. Concert ~ 100 Trombones
  7. Dream Walkin' ~ Mark Little
  8. Soft Sands ~ Oscar Peterson
  9. Pianola Jazz: Early Piano Jazz & Ragtime Played on Pianola Rolls ~ Various Artists
  10. Thriller: Richard Diamond ~ Original Jazz Score

Music CD

Music CD

Music CD

Nuthin' But a "G" Thang ~ Dr. Dre

DCC America ~ Death Comet Crew

Very Best Ten Years After Album Ever ~ Ten Years After

Live in Italy ~ Cranes

Yume Bitsu ~ Yume Bitsu

Ten Sorrowful Mysteries ~ Monica Queen

So Excited ~ The Pointer Sisters

How Can I Forget ~ Jimmy Holiday

Someone ~ SWV

The Show ~ Original Soundtrack