New Shorter CD

[sheldonm]

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/styles/wshorter2003.jpg

Has anyone heard the new Wayne Shorter cd yet, has it been released, as I have not been able to find it (as of last week)?

[J.A.W.]

According to the CDUniverse site the release date is March 25, 2003: http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?style=MUSIC&pid=5703492&cart=139528087

[D.D.]

Well, I already saw it in stores here in Italy (haven't bought it, though)...
I am sure there already should be some revoews on-line - probably even on this site.

[Bev Stapleton]

I bought it yesterday - I think it's had an early release in Europe because of his tour.

On first hearing it sounds glorious. Beautiful orchestrations that bizarrely remind of UK arrangers like Mike Gibbs, Django Bates and Mark Lockheart.

The folksier arrangements - the Villa Lobos tune, Irish folk song and medieval carol - should scare no-one. Shorter manages to abstract them so the come across beautifully without sounding twee.

If you loved 'Footprints' last year you'll be bound to enjoy this.

[alankin]

Very nice release. It's mostly large groups with a few quartet pieces in between. (Pallete cleansers?) There's only one new piece, "Sacajawea," but some of the others have been considerably changed from their original conception.

[Alexander]

I'm really looking forward to this! You're all lucky bastards for having this already!

Yet another area where the US is behind Europe...

[Johnj]

It has also been out in Japan for a couple of weeks. I am not sure whether the Japanese release has any extra tracks this time.

[J Larsen]

Is this a studio date? Is the personel the same as on Footprints? Thanks.

[lilolee]

Both reviews I've said started with the same word "Grower" and the tracks I caught on www.jazzfm.co.uk (Mike Chadwick) sounded good.

The line up is the same plus Brad Mehldau, Terry Lynne Carrington and Alex Acuna sitting in and an orchestra added in the back.

[jazzhound]

try half.com

[alankin]

Originally posted by J Larsen
Is this a studio date?

Yes.

[Finger Poppin']

Glad to see a new Shorter record. Can't wait to pick it up.

[David H]

I thought people might like to see the review in The Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/reviews/story/0,11712,918578,00.html

John Walters is quite complementary about the new CD. But I have to disagree with his sentiments over Footprints Live. I found both the last tour and the live CD Wayne's opportunity to revisit and re-adapt his old music. It was a great night - I look forward to next weeks London concert.

[Valerie]

Alegria is fabulously beautiful. I got a copy a couple of weeks ago from half.com! I just can't get enough of this CD and look forward to hearing some of the tunes in a couple of weeks when Shorter et al. come to Boston.

[Chris A.]

The Arts & Leisure section of tomorrow's NY Times carries a review of Alegria by Ben Ratliff (who needs to be retired, IMO).

BTW - Same edition also has a lengthy article on Dave Douglas, written by Fred Kaplan.

[gregk]

Originally posted by Chris A.
The Arts & Leisure section of tomorrow's NY Times carries a review of Alegria by Ben Ratliff (who needs to be retired, IMO).

BTW - Same edition also has a lengthy article on Dave Douglas, written by Fred Kaplan.

As someone who doesn't regularly read the NYTimes, I'm wondering how do you know what is in tomorrow's edition?

[alankin]

Originally posted by gregk
As someone who doesn't regularly read the NYTimes, I'm wondering how do you know what is in tomorrow's edition?

Maybe Chris A. has psychic powers?

But, seriously, some sections of the Times are delivered on Saturday. I get the Arts & Leisure section delivered to my porch (well, usually on my sidewalk) in Philadelphia before 8 am Saturday morning.

[Pharaohrock]

Not to be anal-retentive, but if you post a disc for people to comment on, include the title......."New Shorter cd" won't mean anything when his next disc comes out and will only confuse those looking in the archive for a thread about "Alegria."

[sheldonm]

Pharaorock,

At the time I asked the question, I didn't know the name of the recording. Someone else posted the cover after I asked the question. Don't think being anal is a bad thing!

Mark

[Hardbop]

Originally posted by gregk


As someone who doesn't regularly read the NYTimes, I'm wondering how do you know what is in tomorrow's edition?

The special sections of the Sunday Times are printed well before Sunday. I worked in a place where some sections, such as the A&L section, were available late in the week. If you get home delivery of the Times, you receive certain sections of the Sunday Times with the Saturday paper, such as the A&L section, the TV section, Real Estate, the Magazine and the Book Review.

Ratliff doesn't exactly give this disc a ringing endorsement.

[sidewinder]

There was a review of this one last Sunday in the UK Sunday Times. Not a great review, only 1 star. The wording basically said that it was overshadowed by Shorter's early Blue Note successes. From what I'm hearing in this thread, I'll keep a very open mind...

[Valerie]

If I remember correctly, Ratliff has not been fair to Shorter in the past (or it's possible I'm confusing him with another NYT jazz writer). I just cannot imagine anyone who likes Wayne not enjoying Alegria! Color me naive, perhaps!

[Hardbop]

Valerie you are confusing Ratliff with his predecessor, Peter Watrous. Watrous famously or infamously depending on how you look at wrote a scathing review of Wayne's "High Life" CD a number of years ago. While I am no fan of HL, the disc does have its supporters. I remember on one of the chat boards pianist Michael Wiess had some very eloquent and elucidating comments on that disc.

[Valerie]

Originally posted by Hardbop
Valerie you are confusing Ratliff with his predecessor, Peter Watrous. Watrous famously or infamously depending on how you look at wrote a scathing review of Wayne's "High Life" CD a number of years ago. While I am no fan of HL, the disc does have its supporters. I remember on one of the chat boards pianist Michael Wiess had some very eloquent and elucidating comments on that disc.

Thanks, Hardbop. I thought I might be confused and now, thanks to you, remember that it was Watrous. I do remember quite clearly though Wayne's wife's reaction. They were in NY to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary around the time Watrous's piece came out. She was livid and it was definitely a hot topic of discussion at the small anniversary celebration!

[Leeway]

From the Washington Post

Recordings
Shorter, Still Long on Talent
Saxophonist Refashions and Refreshes Some Old Favorites
Wayne Shorter's "Alegria" is a studio project that retains the passion and spontaneity that give his live performances their compelling individuality. (File Photo/ Eric Draper -- AP)

By Steve Futterman
Special to The Washington Post
Sunday, March 30, 2003; Page G08


It's hard to determine which act Wayne Shorter is on when it comes to his five-decade career. Breaking this long strange trip into four (too) neat divisions can perhaps give us a handle on the artistic trajectory of this equally brilliant and enigmatic figure.

First there were the acoustic years, the apprenticeships with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers and Miles Davis's mid-'60s quintet -- overlapping with Shorter's own influential Blue Note recordings -- cementing his reputation as a magisterial tenor and soprano saxophonist and composer of rare distinction. The Weather Report tenure followed as Shorter explored jazz-rock-funk fusion with the popular band; his never-quite-in-focus electric-acoustic solo career, covering the past two decades, is a third marking point. And now, in the past three years, Shorter has come full circle.

On last year's "Footprints Live!" Shorter mixed it up with a vigorous trio of younger, unplugged players, responding with focused and stirring improvising, a great deal on his often-neglected tenor, sending the message that all was well with this modern jazz giant. The future looked bright as Shorter approached his seventies.

Hot on the path of "Footprints" comes "Alegria," Shorter's first all-acoustic album since the late '60s. Apart from its overall excellence, "Alegria" is nothing like its predecessor. A studio creation, the new album features a host of supporting horns, winds and percussion, as well as a cello soloist, to bolster Shorter and his core trios; the steadying hand of producer and occasional arranger Robert Sadin can be felt throughout. Where the live album was all about contained explosiveness -- which often broke out, thrillingly, into the real deal -- "Alegria" maintains its composure.

Which isn't to say that Shorter keeps a lid on his abundant charms. Though there are a handful of sharp piano solos, Shorter remains the chief improviser, delivering stunning statements on both of his horns. His tenor work retains the same bite and elliptical delivery of his glory days, his soprano still remarkably free of all the sentimental tics that a few generations of sub-Shorter followers have allowed to seep in and demean the instrument. While the live album found Shorter working in the heat of the moment with gripping results, this studio project miraculously loses none of the spontaneity or passion that gives Shorter's playing its compelling individuality.

Fresh compositions don't seem to be on Shorter's mind these days so much as reworking older tunes and refashioning an eclectic melange of favorite material. So new versions of "Orbits," "Capricorn II" and "Angola" sidle up nicely to adaptations of classical work by Villa-Lobos and Leroy Anderson, a Latin pop song, a 12th-century carol and a Celtic mainstay, the gorgeous "She Moves Through the Fair." What could have come across as an unrelated grab bag, instead, through Shorter's unifying playing and ensemble vision, unfolds as a musical narrative issued from an inclusive, connective mind.

Jazz, to its credit, is blessed with some very hip elder statesmen -- welcome to the club Wayne.

[Hardbop]

Nice to see Wayne playing acoustic jazz again. This is a real nice disc. Wayne doubles on tenor as well as soprano sax. After years -- decades really -- wasting his time playing fusion and synthesizers it is nice to see him in an acoustic setting. A good follow up to his "Footprints Live" disc.

[sal]

I agree, hardbop. This one took me a while to get used to, but I now appreciate its greatness. Highly recommended.

[Tanager]

My opinion on this one waxes and wanes. It's basically a disk for which I have to be "in the mood." I loved it at first listen, then I found it lacking in energy almost to the point of flaccidity, now it's growing on me again. I think it's a very good disk in the end, but it's one that has taken me repeated listens to grow to like.

[sidewinder]

"She Moves Through The Fair". Absolutely fabulous ballad performance; and one of his greatest..