Reflecting on Wayne Shorter’s passing, this writer feels that Shorter was perhaps the most important living (and most listened to) artist in this writer’s lifetime. Yes, my lifelong devotion to John Coltrane may be just a tad stronger, but Coltrane had passed before my jazz listening took hold. Consider that Shorter was a principal songwriter and band member in four of the most important jazz groups that have ever played – Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers, Miles Davis’ Second Great Quintet, Miles’ early electric period, and Weather Report. This collection includes everything recorded by Miles’ Second Great Quintet as well as everything Weather Report recorded. We also point to Shorter’s classic albums on Blue Note as a leader and his later period The Wayne Shorter Quartet. And, don’t forget some of the other classic Blue Note albums from the ‘60s from Donald Byrd, McCoy Tyner, trombonist Grachan Moncur III, Freddie Hubbard, Lee Morgan, and bandmates Herbie Hancock and drummer Tony Williams where Shorter was a sideman. Needless to say, Shorter will likely be cited as one of the important composers in jazz along with Ellington, Mingus, Monk, Coltrane, and Corea. Argue with these six if you dare. After all, Shorter’s well-known definition of jazz is “I dare you.” So, without further ado, and to expedite your listening rather than reading, here are the recommendations:
| Beginning or Casual Listeners | More Advanced Listeners |
| Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers – Blue Note | Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers – Blue Note |
| Free for All – (1964) | Meet You at the Jazz Corner of the World – (2002) |
| A Night in Tunisia – (1961) | Just Cookin’ – (2020) |
| Miles Davis – Columbia | Miles Davis – Columbia |
| Miles Smiles – (1967) | Files de Kilimanjaro – (1968) |
| Nefertiti – (1968) | Wayne Shorter on Blue Note |
| In a Silent Way – (1969) | Native Dancer – (1974) |
| Bitches Brew – (1970) | As a Sideman on Blue Note |
| Wayne Shorter on Blue Note | Grachan Moncur III – Some Other Stuff – (1964) |
| Adam’s Apple (1966) | Donald Byrd – Free Form – (1961) |
| Speak No Evil (1966) | With Herbie Hancock |
| As a Sideman on Blue Note | VSOP – (1977) |
| Lee Morgan – Search for the New Land (1966) | 1+1 – (1997) |
| McCoy Tyner – Expansions (1968) | Wayne Shorter Quartet on Blue Note |
| Weather Report on Columbia | Without a Net – (2013) |
| Weather Report – (1971) | Emanon – (2018) |
| Black Market – (1976) | Wayne Shorter, Terri Lyne Carrington, Esperanza Spalding, Leo Genovese |
| Heavy Weather – (1977) | Live at the Detroit Jazz Festival (2017) on Candid (released in 2022) |
For your viewing pleasure
As a bonus for those of you that are visually inclined, you may want to view these on YouTube – Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Dave Holland, and Brian Blade – Live at Newport 2004 and/or The Wayne Shorter Quarter “Music from ‘Beyond the Sound Barrier’” – Live at Newport 2008. There are many full concerts available on YouTube but for this writer, Newport is the sweet spot. Enjoy your viewing and listening.
