Happy Birthday Wayne Shorter! (August 25, 1933)

byFrankB-1

6.3K followers

Updated 3 weeks ago

(Title image by DALL-E 3)

Hi WA Friends!

I'm not just about Rock and Roll. If you follow my posts, you know I listen to a wide variety of musical genres.

Please help me celebrate the birthday of the late, great Wayne Shorter. If you like jazz and the saxophone, then you already know who I'm talking about, right? To call Wayne "legendary" is an understatement!

A Little History

(With a little help from ChatGPT)

Wayne Shorter was born in Newark, New Jersey on August 25, 1933. He was an American jazz saxophonist and composer whose influence spanned several decades. He was a master of the tenor and soprano saxophones and a prominent figure in the jazz world, renowned for his work with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, Miles Davis's Second Great Quintet, Weather Report, and his solo projects.

Wayne’s musical journey began in his youth when he took up the clarinet before switching to the saxophone. He attended New York University, where he earned a degree in music education. After a brief stint in the U.S. Army, he joined Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers in 1959, where he quickly became the musical director. His work with Blakey earned him recognition as one of the leading tenor saxophonists of his generation.

In 1964, Wayne joined Miles Davis’s Second Great Quintet, where he played alongside Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, and Tony Williams. This group is often celebrated for pushing the boundaries of jazz, incorporating elements of free jazz, hard bop, and modal jazz. Shorter’s compositions, such as "Footprints," "E.S.P.," and "Nefertiti," became standards in the jazz repertoire.

After leaving Miles Davis in 1970, Wayne co-founded the jazz fusion band Weather Report with keyboardist Joe Zawinul. Weather Report was one of the most successful and influential jazz fusion groups of the 1970s and 1980s, known for albums like Heavy Weather (1977) and Black Market (1976).

Equipment Used

(Courtesy of ChatGPT)

Here’s a breakdown of the equipment Wayne used throughout his career. I'll forego my usual statement about WA Gearheads since I know very little about Saxophones from an equipment point of view. 😎

Saxophones

• Selmer Mark VI Tenor Saxophone: Wayne’s main instrument, known for its rich, warm tone and responsive action. The Mark VI is considered one of the finest saxophones ever made and was a staple for many legendary saxophonists.
• Selmer Mark VI Soprano Saxophone: Wayne popularized the use of the soprano saxophone in jazz, and his Mark VI model was instrumental in defining his sound on classics like "Infant Eyes" and "Nefertiti."
• Selmer Super Action 80 Tenor Saxophone: Later in his career, Wayne occasionally used this model, which provided a more modern sound while maintaining the qualities he loved in the Mark VI.

Honors and Awards

(Courtesy of ChatGPT)

Wayne Shorter's contributions to music have been recognized with numerous awards and honors throughout his career. Some of the most notable include:

• 11 Grammy Awards: Shorter won multiple Grammy Awards across categories, including Best Instrumental Composition, Best Jazz Instrumental Album, and Best Improvised Jazz Solo. His first Grammy came in 1987, and his most recent in 2019.
• Kennedy Center Honors (2018): One of the highest honors in the United States, recognizing Shorter’s lifetime contributions to American culture through the performing arts.
• Polar Music Prize (2017): Often referred to as the "Nobel Prize of Music," this prestigious award honored Shorter for his impact on the global music scene.
• NEA Jazz Master (1998): The National Endowment for the Arts named Shorter a Jazz Master, the highest honor given to jazz musicians in the United States.
• Honorary Doctorates: Shorter received honorary doctorates from several institutions, including Berklee College of Music and New York University, acknowledging his influence and contributions to music education.

Discography

(Courtesy of ChatGPT)

Wayne Shorter’s discography is extensive, showcasing his work as a leader, co-leader, and sideman across various genres. Here’s a selection of his most significant recordings.

If you have to listen to just one album, I recommend Bitches Brew (1970), Super Nova (1969), Without a Net (2013), or Heavy Weather (1977).

However, listen to his entire discography if you love jazz and the saxophone!

As a Leader

• Night Dreamer (1964)
• JuJu (1964)
• Speak No Evil (1965) – One of Shorter’s most famous albums, highly regarded in the jazz world.
• The All Seeing Eye (1965)
• Schizophrenia (1967)
• Native Dancer (1974) – A collaboration with Brazilian singer Milton Nascimento.
• Atlantis (1985)
• High Life (1995)
• Alegría (2003)
• Without a Net (2013)
• Emanon (2018)

With Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers

• Mosaic (1961)
• Free for All (1964)
• Indestructible (1966)

With Miles Davis

• E.S.P. (1965)
• Miles Smiles (1967)
• Nefertiti (1968)
• In a Silent Way (1969)
• Bitches Brew (1970)

With Weather Report

• Weather Report (1971)
• Mysterious Traveller (1974)
• Tale Spinnin’ (1975)
• Heavy Weather (1977) – The band’s most popular album, featuring "Birdland."
• 8:30 (1979) – A live album that won a Grammy Award.
• Night Passage (1980)

Collaborations

• The Soothsayer with Freddie Hubbard (1965)
• Super Nova with Chick Corea and John McLaughlin (1969)
• 1+1 with Herbie Hancock (1997)
• Beyond the Sound Barrier with Wayne Shorter Quartet (2005)

Wayne's work has influenced generations of musicians across genres, from jazz to rock to classical music. Wayne continued to perform and compose well into his later years, forming the Wayne Shorter Quartet in the early 2000s, which was widely acclaimed for its innovative and adventurous performances!

Wayne passed away on March 2, 2023, at the age of 89, leaving behind a monumental legacy in the world of music.

Our Double Birthday Celebration 🥳

Today, as we celebrate Wayne's special day, it's also my mother-in-law's 90th birthday! The plan is to attend her party this afternoon and then have some friends over tonight for jazz and drinks in honor of Wayne.

I love double birthdays! Who wouldn't? Lol 😂

In the meantime, I've already streamed plenty of Wayne's incredible music!

Tell Me What You Think!

Are you familiar with Wayne's music? Has this post prompted you to listen to some of his tunes today?

Please give me your thoughts on Wayne in the comments!

Happy Birthday, Wayne! 🎂, AND ...

Keep On Rockin' It! 🤘 🎷
Frank 🎸

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