Wayne Shorter - Live At The Detroit Jazz Festival - Import CD

Credits:

Wayne Shorter

Description:

In 2017, Wayne Shorter was artist-in-residence at the Detroit Jazz Festival. He was scheduled to perform three times during the weekend: Once with his longstanding quartet -- pianist Danilo Perez, drummer Brian Blade, and bassist John Patitucci -- the second was the quartet performance documented here. The third set was to be a live performance of Emanon, the score for his graphic novel with an orchestra; it was cancelled due to inclement weather. This group comprised bassist/vocalist Esperanza Spalding, drummer Teri Lyne Carrington, and pianist Leo Genovese (he replaced Detroit pianist Geri Allen, who died in June). The group met that day to rehearse a few themes, but no more. Live at the Detroit Jazz Festival showcases a band carrying on an eventful, musically advanced conversation. Opener "Someplace Called Where" was composed by Shorter. Spalding, and Genovese, and Carringtons ride cymbal introduces it haltingly. Shorters tenor enters at 1:30 and the band begins framing his questioning notes. Spalding starts singing at two minutes. Her long, open notes in the lyric flower within the quartets accompaniment. and emerge, slowly yet fully formed as a clarion call to explore. Solos by Genovese and Shorter are reaching and resonant. Carringtons dancing rhythms anchor, push, and underscore their unconventional harmonic invention. More than 21 minutes long, "Endangered Species," was co-composed by Shorter and Spalding (they later collaborated on the staged opera Iphigenia). It emerges subtly: Soprano sax punctuates the chordal statements by Genovese and the percussive vamping of Spalding with Carringtons stretched beats melding post-bop and funky breaks. At five minutes, soprano sax and piano deliver a forceful call-and-response modal interaction. The music strips to a hush halfway through as Spaldings voice offers solace and assurance with crystalline accuracy while elastically shifting pitches. A glorious reading of Milton Nascimentos "Encontros e Despedidas" follows (Shorter cut 1975s Native Dancer in collaboration with him). Spalding is exceptional with the Portuguese lyric, allowing her voice freedom amid Carringtons shifting polyrhythms as Shorters tenor offers an alternate lyricism framed by Genoveses cascading arpeggios and lush chords. Allens "Drummers Song" commences with Afro-Latin drumming and Genoveses syncopated chord voicings. Spaldings bass enters halfway into a circular vamp that the pianist transforms into mutant salsa as Shorters soprano punctuates with sweeping, jagged lines in an intoxicating, swirling dance. The saxophonists "Midnight in Carlottas Hair" is the set closer. The empathic union of singer and soprano horn reaches deep into Shorters complex, canny lyricism. Carrington and Genovese add depth, color, dimension, and constant fluid motion. The band gels as Shorter solos before the quartet reunites in a gradual fade. This groups individual and collective abilities reflect a more seasoned quartet. Live at the Detroit Jazz Festival is a compelling exercise in kinetic, deeply emotional music making (mostly) in the moment . Given Shorters retirement from performing (he is 89 with health issues) this amounts to a gift as well as a historical document. [The LP configuration contains a bonus track containing conversation among the quartet members.] ~ Thom Jurek

Tracklisting:

1.Someplace Called "Where"
2.Endangered Species
3.Encontros e Despedidas
4.Drummers Song
5.Midnight in Carlotta's Hair
6.*The Stuff That Dreams Are Made (A Conversation)