Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis The Music of Wayne Shorter

Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis
The Music of Wayne Shorter
Blue Engine Records

In the booklet accompanying this new recording devoted to the music of Wayne Shorter from the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (JLCO), Christian McBride writes, "How would I describe Wayne Shorter? It would be way too easy to call him something like a "legend" or a "genius." Those are words that get thrown around much too easily in today's 140-character culture. Wayne's career is well-known and widely celebrated by not only the jazz community, but by music lovers all over the world. Simply put, he helped to expand the language of modern American music as both a composer and a saxophonist."

This recording memorializes performances by Shorter with JLCO from Mat 2015. It is one of several recordings celebrating Shorter's music joining those by the San Francisco Jazz Ensemble, David Weiss, Antonio Adolfo, and others. Shorter appears on tenor and soprano saxophones with JCLO. The members of JLCO at these performances included: Reeds - Sherman Irby: Alto & Soprano Saxophones, Flute, Piccolo, Bb Clarinet, Ted Nash: Alto & Tenor Saxophones, C And Alto Flutes, Piccolo, Bb Clarinet, Victor Goines: Tenor Saxophone, Bb & Eb Clarinets; Walter Blanding: Tenor & Soprano Saxophones, Bb Clarinet, and Paul Nedzela: Baritone & Alto Saxophones, Bass Clarinet; Trumpets -Ryan Kisor, Kenny Rampton, Marcus Printup, and Wynton Marsalis, Trombones - Vincent Gardner, Chris Crenshaw, and Elliot Mason, and a rhythm section of Dan Nimmer, Piano, Carlos Henriquez, Bass and Ali Jackson, Drums.

The Shorter compositions performed are: "Yes or No," "Diana," "Hammer Head," "Contemplation," "Endangered Species," "Lost," "Armageddon," "The Three Marias," "Teru," and "Mama 'G'." Most of the compositions date from 1959-1966, but a couple are from his Columbia album "Atlantis." Members of the JCLO wrote the arrangements to these compositions that were generally performed by smaller ensembles.

There is some marvelous music here starting with Victor Goines sterling arrangement of "Yes or No" that opens with Shorter on tenor sax. Goines' rich orchestration of the horns frames some terrific solos from Shorter, Wynton Marsalis, and pianist Dan Nimmer. One thing that also is readily noticeable is the superb rhythm section of Nimmer, Henriquez, and Jackson. Ted Nash's arrangement on "Diana" provides a lush, serene setting for Shorter's soprano sax and the trumpets of Marsalis and Printup." Sherman Irby put together as bouncy big band setting for "Hammer Head," a classic from Shorter's time with Art Blakey. Irby on alto sax and trombonist Vincent Gardner solo in addition to Shorter while rhythm trio keeps a tight groove.

Other notable selections include "Endangered Species" with one of Shorter's best soprano sax solos on this date and one of Ali Jackson's drum solos set against Gardner's imaginative arrangement. There is a bit of organized chaos at the opening of Marcus Printup's arrangement of "Armageddon," with Nimmer's block chords lending a roomy ambiance here. Shorter's swirling soprano sax is spotlighted in Carlos Henriquez's arrangement of "The Three Marias." At the center of this performance though is Shorter's soprano sax set against just the rhythm section. Jackson's accompaniment is especially noteworthy. All three members of the rhythm section get to solo on the vibrant "Mama 'G'," with fiery playing from Shorter. Jackson's volcanic drum solo that brings this performance (and this recording) to a highly charged close.

The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra under Wynton Marsalis' direction has a well-deserved reputation for the quality of its music. The concerts with Wayne Shorter resulted in this vibrant superlative collaboration with Wayne Shorter.

I received my review download from a publicist. Here the JLCO perform "Hammerhead."