Saxophonist and composer Wayne Shorter was born on August 25th, 1933 in Newark, New Jersey.

He graduated from New York University in 1956, and played with Horace Silver while serving briefly in the military, before becoming a member of “Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers” in 1959, remaining for five years.

While serving in the army in the late ‘50s.

Miles Davis had his sights set on attaining Blakey’s rising star saxophonist for his own group and in 1964 was able to persuade Shorter to join what later become known as his “Second Great Quintet.”

He composed many of Davis’ most famous tunes, like “Nefertiti” and “Footprints.”

Shorter recorded many LPs for Blue Note, including the 1966 classic Speak No Evil.

He went on to co-found the jazz fusion group Weather Report, featuring Jaco Pastorius, Joe Zawinul, and others.

Wayne Shorter was able to record and release several solo projects during his time with Davis and in 1970 formed the fusion group “Weather Report” with Davis’ keyboardist Joe Zawinul.

After the release of their final studio album “This Is This!” in 1986 the group dissolved the following year.

Since then Shorter has continued to work primarily in jazz fusion and in 2000 organized a permanent acoustic band under his own name.

The quartet consisting of pianist Danilo Perez, bassist John Patitucci, drummer Brian Blade, and himself have issued three albums “Footprints Live!” (2002), “Beyond the Sound Barrier” (2005), and “Without A Net” (2013); all featuring his original compositions.

Wayne Shorter performs “Birdland” in Offenbach, Germany on September 29, 1978 as a member of “Weather Report”.

Personnel: 

Wayne Shorter, soprano & tenor sax
Joe Zawinul, keyboards
Jaco Pastorius, bass
Peter Erskine, drums

In 1986 soprano and tenor-saxophonist Wayne Shorter was at one of the cross roads of his career.

Weather Report was breaking up and Shorter was freelancing, playing and recording with a variety of artists including Bobby McFerrin and Michel Petrucciani.

He was in the process of recording the Phantom Navigator album with a large ensemble but did not have a regular working group, however his improvisations were as lively and original as always.

On this version of his “Beauty And The Beast,” performed in Pori, Finland in 1986, Shorter (who was 53) is featured on soprano leading a unit that included pianist-keyboardist Mitch Forman, electric bassist Gary Willis, and drummer Tom Brechtlein.

The music grooves in its own way (a little like Weather Report) with Shorter (who is interviewed during the first three minutes) playing free on soprano and sounding personal and passionate.