Wayne Shorter: The Soothsayer (1965)

Robert Gilbert

Recent articles (13 total)

Published: January 8, 2003

The mid-1960's were a heady time for Wayne Shorter. Newly enshrined as the permanent heir to Coltrane in Miles Davis's working group, he was the final puzzle piece to the band that would spur Davis to some of the most fruitful years of his career. At the same time, Shorter was in the midst of recording a series of uniformly excellent albums for Blue Note Records that featured the best young jazzmen of the time. They also provided him with a platform for his flair as a composer.

The Soothsayer was Shorter's March 1965 followup to the widely admired Speak No Evil, yet it was not released until the late-1970's. Shorter stalwarts Freddie Hubbard, James Spaulding, McCoy Tyner and Ron Carter are all present, with the wild-card factor being a 19-year-old Tony Williams.

What resulted followed the loose formula established by previous Shorter albums like Night Dreamer. There's a ballad ("Lady Day ), a mid-tempo piece with an easily flowing theme ("Lost ) as well as something immediately catchy ("The Big Push ). What pushes The Soothsayer beyond mere mimicry is the use of a three-man front line. The expanded range of expression offered by this set-up adds greater punch to tunes like "Lost and "Angola. The soloists are all in fine form as well, but perhaps not in top shape. Each improvises with passion, though, on "The Big Push with Hubbard effectively contrasting melodic lines with more jagged runs.

The title track starts very quirkily but resolves into a simple theme that unfurls like the petals of a rose. Tyner sets the mood for the advanced solos that follow with his attentive comping. It is the most exciting and notable piece on the album and features a particularly noteworthy contribution by Shorter.

So, a question remains: why was The Soothsayer banished to the vaults for more than a decade? Perhaps the answer lies with another 1965 Shorter session: The All-Seeing Eye, a daunting, exhilarating nod to the avant-garde which dramatically pushed the envelope in a way The Soothsayer doesn't. Blue Note producer Alfred Lion may have seen it as the more logical choice for the next Shorter release. As well, Williams seems to be holding a back a bit on this session and doesn't play with the time as much as might be expected.

Regardless, The Soothsayer is still a convincing example of Shorter's aptitude as both a tenor saxophonist and composer, and it overcomes the perceived shortcomings with ease.

Track Listing: Lost; Angola; Angola (alternate take); The Big Push; The Soothsayer; Lady Day; Valse Triste.

Personnel: Wayne Shorter: tenor saxophone; Freddie Hubbard: trumpet; James Spaulding: alto saxophone; McCoy Tyner: piano; Ron Carter: bass; Tony Williams: drums.

Record Label: Blue Note Records
Style: Straight-ahead/Mainstream

Shop for jazz:

Wayne Shorter Related

View more Wayne Shorter photos | Upload Wayne Shorter photos

Date	Venue	Tickets
Jul18	Soho Factory Warsaw, Poland	buy
Nov24	Symphony Hall Boston, MA	buy

CD/LP/Track Review

Without a Net by John Eyles
Without a Net by Mark F. Turner

All About Jazz: The most comprehensive jazz resource on the web

CD/LP/Track Review

Wayne Shorter: The Soothsayer (1965)

Robert Gilbert

Shop for jazz:

Showcase

Blue from Heaven (feat. John Taylor and Paul McCandless)

Red

Weekly Giveaways

MAIN

SERVICES

COMMUNITY

All About Jazz: The most comprehensive jazz resource on the web

CD/LP/Track Review

Wayne Shorter: The Soothsayer (1965)

Robert Gilbert

Shop for jazz:

Wayne Shorter Related

CD/LP/Track Review

Extended Analysis

We Travel the Spaceways

Live Reviews

DVD/Video/Film Reviews

Live Reviews

Showcase

Blue from Heaven (feat. John Taylor and Paul McCandless)

Red

Weekly Giveaways

MAIN

SERVICES

COMMUNITY

FOLLOW US

Log in