| Jazz |
It only takes an album of this kind arriving at the editorial office to make me nostalgic. Indeed, I had the honor of crossing paths with Wayne Shorter a long time ago, while I was talking with Joe Zawinul. It was in the Benelux, on a sunny afternoon in June. His gentle gaze, his smile, a warm handshake—and I was a bit stunned, as I hadn’t expected that day to see one of my two mentors: the first with whom I was speaking, and the second who was just passing by. I never saw him again, and it’s one of my greatest regrets, because for me, the starting point of modern jazz, just like the foundation of Weather Report, are these two illustrious figures who, both in their personal careers and within the group, were capable of magical inventions and miracles.
*Wayne Shorter – Celebration Volume 1* is the first in a series of archival releases that the legendary saxophonist and composer Wayne Shorter prepared himself before his passing in 2023. This live recording from 2014 captures Shorter’s acclaimed quartet with pianist Danilo Perez, bassist John Patitucci, and drummer Brian Blade during the Stockholm Jazz Festival in Sweden. The fearless set includes some of the group’s favorite tracks, such as *Zero Gravity*, *Smilin’ Through*, *Orbits*, *Lotus*, and *She Moves Through The Fair*. The album is presented today along with the single *Edge of the World (End Title)*, a theme by composer Arthur B. Rubinstein from the 1983 film *WarGames*.
To tell the truth, with this album we reach the peak of these artists’ performances, with the unique quality that we are facing a jazz album that would also fit perfectly within what contemporary classical music is, because these complex compositions and interpretations defy the boundaries of genres and stand as undeniable masterpieces. “In the fall of 2022, Rob Griffin began sending a lot of unreleased music to Wayne for him to sort through,” writes Carolina Shorter in the album notes. “He started listening relentlessly. I’d be doing things around the house, on the phone, or at work, and he would shout, ‘Carolina! You have to come listen to this! Look at what these guys are doing!’ Wayne took detailed notes—some of them are reproduced on the album’s cover.”
“When he heard the Stockholm concert, he said, ‘This is the album!’” she continues. “Then he started listening to other pieces and, over time, realized that more than one record was needed. He initially wanted to call the collection *Unidentified Flying Objects*—thinking that the notes played by everyone were UFOs! In January 2023, when he was hospitalized for the last time, he continued choosing tracks and organizing the albums. His ‘Never give up’ spirit, which underpinned his entire mission, was stronger than ever, and he was excited about releasing more music. It was only in the last 10 days of his life that he realized he wouldn’t be here to see it come to fruition. He then felt the urgency to celebrate life and decided to change the collection’s name to *Celebration*. I said, ‘Yes Wayne! Let’s celebrate! That’s what it should be called. A celebration!’”
A celebration! I still get chills, even after listening to this album multiple times. Wayne Shorter, his sonic universe, his way of attacking notes with a disarming naturalness, a brilliant composer, with spacey, questioning, and sometimes unsettling music, taking risks at every second only to land on his feet again. That’s also what I admired about Joe Zawinul. Two figures who have forever marked the history of contemporary jazz with its most creative and expressive elements, in a style that, let’s admit, is quite elitist. And if you, too, adore Wayne Shorter, Blue Note has great news for you: The label will also celebrate Shorter’s legacy with several reissues of his classic albums, including a Tone Poet vinyl edition of *Odyssey of Iska* (1970) available on July 5th, a classic vinyl edition of *JuJu* (1964) available on August 16th, and an exclusive Blue Note authorized stores vinyl reissue of *Speak No Evil* (1964), available on August 9th at participating independent record stores.
To illustrate just how crucial and alive Wayne Shorter’s importance is, Shorter’s works have been performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the Lyon Symphony Orchestra, the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, and he has received commissions from the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the National Orchestra, among others. In total, Shorter composed more than 200 works, with dozens of them becoming modern standards. Shorter was named an NEA Jazz Master, and his numerous honors include 13 Grammy Awards and a Kennedy Center Honor in 2018.
It’s hard to be brief when talking about such an important musician. Just focus on this photograph by Tomo Muscionico, which shows all the genius of the master, extremely concentrated, living his music deeply.
Of course, this album is a “must-have,” even though for such an artist, that hardly suffices. One can only be grateful for such a beautiful career and remain in awe.
Thierry De Clemensat
USA correspondent – Paris-Move and ABS magazine
Editor in chief Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News
PARIS-MOVE, August 16th 2024
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Wayne Shorter – Celebration Volume 1:
Wayne Shorter: tenor and soprano saxophone
Danilo Perez: piano
John Patitucci: bass
Brian Blade: drums
Produced by Wayne Shorter and Don Was
Recorded live October 18, 2014 by Rob Griffin and Nicolas Poitrenaud at Stockholm Concert Hall, Stockholm Jazz Festival, Stockholm, Sweden
Assisted by Olivier Chambin
Re-Recorded and Mixed by Rob Griffin at AcousTech, Casco Viejo, Panama
Mastered by Harold LaRue at Harold LaRue Mastering, Houston, Texas
Vinyl Mastering by Chris Muth at Taloowa Corporation, Yonkers, NY
Vinyl Manufactured at Record Technology Incorporated (RTI)