Wayne Shorter has written a number of landmark jazz compositions that have found favor among fellow jazz musicians, but
Mysterious Shorter marks a rare occasion when an entire CD is devoted to his music. Trumpeter
Nicholas Payton heads a strong quintet, including saxophonist
Bob Belden (who doubles on soprano and tenor saxes, like
Shorter, and contributed all of the arrangements), organist
Sam Yahel, guitarist
John Hart, and drummer
Billy Drummond. Since six of the eight songs are from
Shorter's early Blue Note CDs prior to his move toward fusion, the substitution of
Yahel's laid-back organ for the more striking sound of the piano softens the sound of
Belden's charts, giving them a bit more of a mysterious flavor, especially in the brisk, playful setting of "Footprints."
Payton is known for his powerful trumpet playing, but displays a quiet lyrical touch in "Teru."
Belden's charts also fit
Shorter's fusion material well. Chesky's single-point microphone adds to the intimacy of this rewarding session, issued as a hybrid Super Audio disc. ~ Ken Dryden