Wayne Shorter Biography
As both a tenor and soprano saxophonist and as a composer, Wayne Shorter has been a major jazz figure for more than half a century. His playing, both on his own albums and as a member of fusion pioneers Weather Report, has been a longstanding influence on younger players. As a tenor saxist, Shorter’s trademark sound is intense and funky. On tenor, he’s light and lyrical. As a composer, Shorter is renowned for his complex, intricate tunes, many of which have become jazz standards.
Shorter started out playing clarinet at 16, but had switched to tenor sax by the time he began attending New York University. After graduating in 1956, he played with Horace Silver, before being drafted into the Army. After two years in the service, he joined Maynard Ferguson’s band, whose pianist at the time was Joe Zawinul. Shorter then spent four years as a member of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, eventually becoming that group’s musical director. It was during his time with Blakey that Shorter also made his first recordings as a leader.
In September 1964, Shorter joined the Miles Davis Quintet; during his tenure, that group would evolve from acoustic jazz into electronic jazz-rock, thus laying the groundwork for the fusion movement that would thrive in the ’70s. In late 1968, Shorter switched to soprano sax, whose tone made it easier to be heard amidst the Davis band’s louder arrangements. During his time with Davis, Shorter emerged as one of the group’s main composers, contributing such enduring pieces as “Prince of Darkness,” “ESP,” “Footprints,” “Nefertiti” and “Sanctuary.” After the quintet broke up, Shorter remained with Davis long enough to contribute to the seminal early fusion albums In A Silent Way and Bitches Brew. While working with Davis, Shorter also recorded several albums of his own, on which he expanded his original hard-bop approach to incorporate avant-garde atonality and jazz-rock rhythms. Those albums featured such players as Freddie Hubbard, Elvin Jones, Lee Morgan, McCoy Tyner and Reggie Workman.
In late 1970, Shorter teamed up with old cohort Joe Zawinul and bassist Miroslav Vitous to form Weather Report, and remained with that band for its 15-year existence. Shorter’s only solo release during Weather Report’s lifespan was 1974s Native Dancer, on which he explored Brazilian-American influences in partnership with his Miles Davis Quintet bandmate Herbie Hancock and Brazilian vocalist/composer Milton Nascimento. Shorter also reembraced his musical past as a member of V.S.O.P., alongside his former Miles cohorts Hancock, Ron Carter and Tony Williams as well as Freddie Hubbard.
After Weather Report disbanded in 1985, Shorter concentrated on recording his own albums, usually working in a fusion mode. He also continued to work with Herbie Hancock; the two musicians collaborated with Carter, Williams and Wallace Roney on a 1994 Miles Davis tribute album. He also contributed to albums by such rock acts as Joni Mitchell, Santana, Steely Dan and the Rolling Stones.
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