Wayne Shorter @ Carnegie Hall 6/28/03

[willfb]

Despite being chewed up in the acoustics of Carnegie Hall, Wayne Shorter proved that he's still a great player. The first half was mostly the quartet with Herbie Hancock coming out for a duet at the end. I love what Danilo Perez brings to the table with Wayne's band, but Herbie's playing in the duo was truly sublime. Second half was an orchestra playing behind the quartet with Herbie brought out to play an electric keyboard at one point, which added nothing to the music. I thought the orchestra would fuck up everything but to my surprise it seemed to give Wayne even more focus, and his soprano playing brought me back to the late 60's-early 70's when he started playing the horn and single-handedly created a new way to play the horn. Savion Glover came out to tap a couple of tunes from Wayne's "Joy Ryder" period, which I could have done without, but the band seemed to be having fun, and that's important.

Comments I had read about Wayne on other threads led me to believe he couldn't play anymore (plus I wasn't all that enthralled with "Footprints Live") but I am so, so happy to be shown otherwise. What an absolute master he is.

[kdd]

It was a great show and I thought the orchestra stuff was brilliant
Wayne just keeps going and going.....

[RainyDay]

I saw Shorter last fall and in June 2001. In 2001, I enjoyed him but I didn't love him. But last fall, Branford Marsalis "opened" for him, and Shorter came out afterward firing like a bandit on acid. He was just outrageous. He just blew his heart out that night.

You lucky soul. I would love to see him with Herbie.

[willfb]

What RD said. It may be that Wayne was just rusty when this band got together but the steady gig and the top shelf band have sharpened his chops and ideas up big time. Can't wait for him to play here in the East again.

[gonzo]

this is the band i'd most like to see right now.

[hornplayer]

I was sorry to have to miss that show....

[TheloniousFunk]

It was a great performance on everyone's part, I think. I personally enjoyed watching Brian Blade interact with Savion Glover a lot. Herbie was wonderful.