Happy Birthday, Wayne Shorter

Jazz saxophonist and composer Wayne Shorter turns 81 today, having been born on August 25, 1933, in Newark, New Jersey. Shorter is regarded by many as the greatest living composer in jazz and has won 9 Grammy Awards. He worked with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers in the late 1950s, Miles Davis's second quintet in the 1960s, and Weather Report in the 1970s.

Critic Richard S. Ginell describes Shorter's style as a "more succinct manner on tenor sax, retaining the tough tone quality and intensity and, in later years, adding an element of funk."

In his book, The 101 Best Jazz Albums, Len Lyons recommends the following recordings that include Shorter:

• Miles Davis: Miles Smiles (Buy at Amazon.com.)
• Miles Davis: Bitches Brew (Buy at Amazon.com.)
• V.S.O.P.: The Quintet (Buy at Amazon.com.)
• Weather Report: 8:30 (Buy at Amazon.com.)

Shorter plays "Speak No Evil" here:

Robert
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