Wayne Shorter
Footprints Live!

Review by Sam Pryer
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CD Stock Number: Verve

 

  Most incredulous jazz fans often shout that today's young jazz musicians lack the creative spark central to making innovative jazz comparable to that of their legendary forefathers, i.e., Miles, Coltrane, Ellington, Pops, etc. But this extraordinary live performance with one of jazz's most enduring talents proves that all today's young guns need is a leader prepared to kick their butt. Ex Miles Davis and Art Blakey sideman and Weather Report founder Wayne Shorter is undoubtedly one of the great jazz composers and saxophonists of the last 60 years, and his band here is immaculately inspired. Playing rearranged versions of such Shorter classics as "Go," "Sanctuary," " JuJu," "Atlantis," "Masquelero" and the title track, the trio of pianist Danilo Perez, bassist John Patitucci and drummer Brian Blade mine the song's rich atmospheres, blistering rhythms and surreal moods with fiery solos and combustible group interplay. Perez can be forgiven for aping exemplary master Herbie Hancock, while Patitiucci is supportive, but Blade gives no quarter to any drummer, both advancing the music and amplifying it beyond its already flexible framework. Shorter is also in fine form as well, recalling his innovative years with Weather Report and his legendary Blue Note period. Now if only they can get Zawinul, Hancock, Billy Harper, Jack DeJohnette and Keith Jarrett to record this way.

Enjoyment: 95

Sound Quality: 85