Wayne Shorter, innovative jazz saxophonist and composer, dies at 89
LOS ANGELES — Wayne Shorter, an influential jazz innovator whose lyrical, complex jazz compositions and pioneering saxophone playing sounded through more than half a century of American music, has died. He was 89.
Shorter died Thursday surrounded by his family in Los Angeles, said Alisse Kingsley, a representative for the multi-Grammy winner. No cause of death was given.
"Visionary composer, saxophonist, visual artist, devout Buddhist, devoted husband, father and grandfather Wayne Shorter has embarked on a new journey as part of his extraordinary life — departing the earth as we know it in search of an abundance of new challenges and creative possibilities," a statement released by Kingsley said. It called him a gentle spirit who was "always inquisitive and constantly exploring."
Shorter, a tenor saxophonist, made his debut in 1959 and would go on to be a foundational member of two of the most seminal jazz groups: Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers and the Miles Davis Quintet. Over the next eight decades, Shorter's wide-spanning collaborations would include co-founding the '70s fusion band Weather Report, some 10 album appearances with Joni Mitchell and further explorations with Carlos Santana, Brazilian singer Milton Nascimento and jazzy rock band Steely Dan.
Many of Shorter's textured and elliptical compositions — including "Speak No Evil," "Black Nile," "Footprints," and "Nefertiti" — became modern jazz standards and expanded the harmonic horizons of jazz across some of its most fast-evolving eras.
Herbie Hancock once said of Shorter in Miles Davis's Second Great Quintet: "The master writer to me, in that group, was Wayne Shorter. He still is a master. Wayne was one of the few people who brought music to Miles that didn't get changed."
Hancock praised Shorter for his musical expertise and leaving a special mark in his life.
"Wayne Shorter, my best friend, left us with courage in his heart, love and compassion for all, and a seeking spirit for the eternal future," Hancock said in a statement. "He was ready for his rebirth. As it is with every human being, he is irreplaceable and was able to reach the pinnacle of excellence as a saxophonist, composer, orchestrator, and recently, composer of the masterful opera '…Iphigenia'. I miss being around him and his special Wayne-isms but I carry his spirit within my heart always."
Like Hancock, Shorter continued to work with Davis after the trumpet master disbanded his Second Great Quintet in 1968, contributing soprano saxophone to the landmark electric jazz albums In a Silent Way and Bitches Brew as well as writing the song "Sanctuary" for the latter record. While Shorter and keyboardist Joe Zawinul had known each other since 1959, it wasn't until after they both played on those Davis efforts the following decade later that the decided to work together in Weather Report.
The group -- initially rounded out by fellow Davis alumnus Czech-born bass player Miroslav Vitouš, drummer Alphonse Mouzon and Brazilian percussionist Airto Moriera -- would take a more exploratory and impressionistic approach to electric jazz, though it would gradually move towards a more funk-focused sound on albums like Sweetnighter and Mysterious Traveller. Along with guitarist John McLaughlin's band Mahavishnu Orchestra, Hancock's funky outfit Headhunters and keyboard player Chick Corea's all-star group Return To Forever -- not coincidentally, all bands featuring principal Miles Davis collaborators -- Weather Report helped break jazz fusion to a wider audience during the '70s. Shorter and Zawinul would co-lead the group through a number of evolving line-up, reaching arena-filling levels of commercial success in the latter part of the decade with bass phenom Jaco Pastorious.
The band would eventually come to an end in 1986. The saxophonist had also found time for other collaborations in the previous decade, making the 1974 collaborative album Native Dancer with Brazilian vocalist Milton Nascimento, reuniting with members of the '60s Davis quintet in V.S.O.P with Freddie Hubbard filling in on trumpet and flugelhorn, and guesting along with Pastorius on several Joni Mitchell albums.
As a band leader, Shorter released more than 25 albums and won 12 Grammy Awards. While his recordings in the 1990s largely stayed in the realm of electric jazz, the saxophonist released a celebrated duets album with Hancock 1+1 in 1997 before returning to acoustic music in 2000 with his all-star quartet featuring pianist Danilio Perez, bassist John Patitucci and drummer Brian Blade, garnering some of his best reviews in years. In 2015 he was given a lifetime achievement Grammy. Last month, he won a Grammy in the category of best improvised jazz solo for "Endangered Species" with Leo Genovese.
Shorter's work has been performed by several popular symphonies including Chicago, Detroit and Lyon along with the National Polish Radio Symphonic and Orpheus Chamber orchestras.
In his career, Shorter has had more than 200 compositions and was a Kennedy Center honoree in 2018.
"Maestro Wayne Shorter was our hero, guru, and beautiful friend," said Don Was, the president of Blue Note Records, the label where he recorded several albums. "His music possessed a spirit that came from somewhere way, way beyond and made this world a much better place. Likewise, his warmth and wisdom enriched the lives of everyone who knew him. Thankfully, the work he left behind will stay with us forever. Our hearts go out to Carolina and all who loved him."
