Wayne Shorter (August 25, 1933 – March 2, 2023) was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Shorter came to prominence in the late 1950s as a member of, and eventually primary composer for Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. In the 1960s, he joined Miles Davis's Second Great Quintet, and then co-founded the jazz fusion band Weather Report. He recorded more than 20 albums as a bandleader. Many Shorter compositions have become jazz standards, and his music has earned worldwide recognition, critical praise, and commendation. Shorter won 12 Grammy Awards.He was acclaimed for his mastery of the soprano saxophone since switching his focus from the tenor in the late 1960s and beginning an extended reign in 1970 as DownBeat's annual poll-winner on that instrument, winning the critics' poll for 10 consecutive years and the readers' for 18. The New York Times music critic Ben Ratliff described Shorter in 2008 as "probably jazz's greatest living small-group composer and a contender for greatest living improviser". In 2017, he was awarded the Polar Music Prize.
Oakland native Isaac Schwartz brings his band of musical collaborators and lifelong Wayne fans to pay tribute to their collective hero. The night will feature Wayne's early work with the Jazz Messengers and solo recordings all the way through to the music he made with the Wayne Shorter Quartet, which pushed boundaries for the last 20 years.
Isaac first heard Wayne on his seminal album, "Speak No Evil" and fell in love with its impressionistic yet propulsive sound. The music was sensitive yet bombastic; intuitive yet clever; cryptic yet soulful. Finally when Isaac was 16, his father took him to see Wayne live. Isaac wasn't sure if the modern music Wayne was making was really his vibe and boy was he wrong. It was the greatest show he'd ever seen and got him screaming in his seat. The intensity created by Danilo Perez, John Patitucci, and Brian Blade with Wayne at the helm was undeniable. That concert changed the direction of Isaac's life and caused him to fully invest and dedicate his life to music. Isaac is honored to get to pay tribute to his musical father and guiding light in life, Wayne Shorter. ALL HAIL WAYNE!
Lyle Link- Saxophone
Ian Mcardle- Piano
TBD- Bass
Isaac Schwartz-Drums
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