Black Cat Bone

Wow, it was only as I put all the covers together that I really realised how many great Blue Note albums Shorter put out in the 60s (yes I know I am missing some of the earlier ones, but this is surely the classic run); I could pretty much recommend any of those discs to someone and know they were getting some great sessions. Shorter's ability to write evocative ballads, some highly charged things, knotty arrangements...he is one helluva composer for sure. Then you have the bands - just look at the players on some of those..Herbie Hancock, Grachan Moncur, Elvin Jones, McCoy Tyner, Freddie Hubbard, Lee Morgan, James Spaulding, Reggie Workman, Ron Carter...just packed with amazing players playing close to their peak.

Of course this is just the stuff he made under his own name; at the same time, he was a key player and writer in Miles' second great quartet. Can you imagine that band without him? Without his writing? I can't.

So why don't we talk about him more? Maybe we don't have the back story we get with a lot of these guys. He still tours and occasionally puts new music out. Weather Report may have caused some people to get the wrong idea about him. I dont know, but he does seem kinda undervalued.

So I figured we could work through the albums shown above. I'm going to kick off with 'Night Dreamer' this weekend and we can take it from there. Please join! It's not going to be intellectual stuff! Just some guys posting their thoughts on some great jazz sides!

I don't have all of 'em (I have 7 of his 60's albums), but I'll get started now....

Very Coltrane-esque. Elvin Jones' drum fills on "Deluge" are unbelievable.

Hubbard blasting away on "Witch Hunt" with everything he has, then giving way to Herbie Hancock for a laid back, rhythmic solo.

AMAZING.

Fucking manic title track. Shorter bringing the goods from start to finish.

You're off and running! I've yet to start on Night Dreamer!

Balboa wrote:You're off and running! I've yet to start on Night Dreamer!

It's gonna be tough to catch up to me, but I AM heading to the record store in a few minutes. When I get back, I'll be playing Wayne Shorter albums until I've finished them!

Andrew Lou Goldman wrote:

Balboa wrote:You're off and running! I've yet to start on Night Dreamer!

It's gonna be tough to catch up to me, but I AM heading to the record store in a few minutes. When I get back, I'll be playing Wayne Shorter albums until I've finished them!

Ha!

I hate to say it, because it will cost you a fortune, but have you ever thought about buying the Music Matters 45rpm Blue Note series?

http://www.musicmattersjazz.com/

The Wayne Shorter albums on there are amazing! By far the beat sounding BNs out there.

Haven't got all of them by any means, but Ju-Ju is a favourite . This is the one where he uses Coltrane's band.
So let me kick off and state that I prefer it to much of Coltrane 's stuff. I mean, he's holding a tune!!
( cheap jibe at Trane I know!)
But this is great stuff ... Currently The Soothsayer is on heavy rotation at Ned acres ... More challenging. Think I know what I'll listen to when doing the ironing this afternoon!

I have seven of the nine you posted. The All Seeing Eye has been my favorite and I tend to go to that one more than the others combined. I'm not in a jazzy mood at the mo' but I'll join-in for some spins later on.

Christ, I have a lot of records to buy!

Guy E wrote:I have seven of the nine you posted. The All Seeing Eye has been my favorite and I tend to go to that one more than the others combined. I'm not in a jazzy mood at the mo' but I'll join-in for some spins later on.

I was a little surprised to find I had them all actually, I thought I was missing one or two. 'The All Seeing Eye' is the edgiest (is that the right word to use) of the bunch, and reminds me a bit of his work with Miles. But they are all great.

'Night Dreamer' is going on after my pub run...

NP:

I'm missing Super Nova and I don't think I've even heard it. Do you rate it up there with the rest of them you posted?

Six String wrote:I'm missing Super Nova and I don't think I've even heard it. Do you rate it up there with the rest of them you posted?

I really like it, but it has voices on it, so I guess it depends on how you feel about that.

It isn't as good as some of the others, but yeah, I can find plenty to enjoy in it.

I'll join in.....

Super Nova is the only disc i'm missing from that group as well, something i need to rectify considering how much i love the rest.

Cheers Balboa, i can feel some Shorter kicks coming on again!

Ol' Dirty Baron wrote:Christ, I have a lot of records to buy!

Me too.

Balboa wrote:So why don't we talk about him more?

Er, I started a Shorter thread a few months ago, as I'd just bought Juju. I think it's a superb album and am very keen to check out his other albums, too.