One of the pilars of modern jazz!
A.J.H. Woodcount | 10/10/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The Rudy van Gelder serie of Blue Note is well priced and of good quality. This serie gives good insight in the jazz scene of the late 50s an de the 60s. It's a good starting point to learn about this major jazz episode.
Wayne Shorter is one of the few major sax players. But it's the combination of playing and composing that makes him one of the greatest of all times. With 'Speak no evil' together with 'Adams apple' and 'Skizophrenia' you will get a perfect idea of Shorters early work and his huge talent. In my opion these albums are a must in understanding the evolution of jazz. And therefore a must in every jazzcollection!
'Speak no evil' is about composition. The five artists play in service of the compositions. It is about the carpet of sound and not the individual qualities. There's room for space and melodic poetry. This new approach is to be followed up for decades. It is the first solo album of Shorter without the coltraneband. This album puts him among Coltrane en Davis. This, ofcourse, was to be expected of the follower up of Coltrane in the Miles Davis Quintet.
The second album is Skizophrenia. The linernotes explanes the title as 'a retreat from reality'. Shorter finds new paths and that would make him a split-personnality in a time where people are used to stay on the same course. All the six players follow this new course and all find them selves more than capable. The music is soulfull and more important it is funky. Shorter playing is often compared with Coltrane, but on this album Shorter, in my opion, Shorter becomes one of the major players. His qualities shown here put him next to Coltrane, Rollins and Parker.
'Adam's apple' is the third great album of Wayne Shorter. With a lot of Miles Davis Quintet experience Shorter makes his best album. The compositions are (again) all beautifull, but it is the power in the playing that makes the album. It is full, sentimental, drama, spaceous and often surprising. And, mind you, this is only a quartet playing!
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