Posts

Wayne Shorter

Image
Wayne Shorter (August 25, 1933 – March 2, 2023) was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Shorter came to prominence in the late 1950s as a member of, and eventually primary composer for, Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, participating with the Jazz Messengers in the production of 13 albums in four years time. Honing his prodigious skills with side projects with Lee Morgan, Freddie Hubbard, and his own material.  Despite having started a promising solo career with Blue Note with the albums  Night Dreamer  (1964),  Juju  (1965), and  Speak No Evil  (recorded in December of 1964 but not released until 1966),  Wayne joined Miles Davis's band  in 1964 ,  replacing saxophonist George Coleman in Miles' new power hard bop lineup,  forming what would be called Miles' "Second Great Quintet" with other members Ron Carter, Herbie Hancock, and Anthony "Tony" Williams.  Despite his "membership" in Miles Second Great Quintet and their near ...

Pat Metheny

Image
Kansas-born Pat Metheny has been one of Jazz and Jazz-Rock Fusion's most visible and staunchest champions for over 50 years. His productivity has never slowed during any of those 50 years: touring constantly, collaborating with a wide variety of creatives including Gary Burton, Joni Mitchell, Jaco Pastorius, Jack De Johnette, Nana Vasconcelos, Charlie Haden, Billy Higgins, Ornette Coleman,  The Heath Brothes, Dave Brubeck, B.B. King,  Pedro Aznar, Dave Holland, Roy Haynes, Steve Reich, Toots Thielemans, Jeremy Lubbock, Sonny Rollins, Brad Mehldau, Christian McBride, Antonio Sanchez, Chris Potter, Ben Williams, and even David Bowie--not to mention the numerous members who have served in his "Group" format, including: Danny Gottleib, Mark Egan, Steve Rodby, Paul Wertico, and, of course, the late, great keyboard master, Lyle Mays. Never one to be pinned down to a certain sound or style or even genre of Jazz/Jazz-Rock Fusion, Pat is one artist that has always seemed to be rei...