On Sunday evening, local jazz enthusiasts have a chance to reconnect with a musical legend, a towering figure in the saxophone jazz era. The concert, titled “Legacy of Wayne Shorter,” features three musicians who played alongside the transformative artist during the later stages of his career, along with a contemporary disciple, creating a living tribute to a jazz great.
Wayne Shorter rose to fame in the late 1950s when he joined Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers. His illustrious career included collaborations with Miles Davis in the 1960s and the formation of the influential band Weather Report. However, Shorter continued to evolve, exploring new musical expressions through various quartet-based projects.
Three of the performers set to take the stage at the Raven on November 2 are pianist Danilo Perez, bassist John Patitucci, and drummer Brian Blade. This group, known as the Footprints Quartet, accompanied Shorter on four live albums from 2002 until Without a Net in 2013.
These musicians are intimately familiar with Shorter’s intricate work. Their decade-long collaboration involved a joint exploration of Shorter’s compositions, often deviating from the traditional melody-improv-melody structure characteristic of classic jazz.
Completing the quartet is Mark Turner, a seasoned performer who has participated in two previous Healdsburg Jazz Festivals and serves as the perfect addition to this inspired group dedicated to the music of Wayne Shorter.
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