The Wayne Shorter Project

SFJAZZ Honors Jazz Legend with Concert Series and More

This spring, SFJAZZ pays tribute to “one of the most significant composers and individual saxophonists in jazz” (The New York Times), Wayne Shorter, with a wide-ranging series of concerts that display the breadth and depth of his awe-inspiring talent—including a very special appearance by the legend himself, both with his all-star quartet and an expanded nonet featuring famed ensemble Imani Winds (4/11).

From the moment he took the stage with Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, Wayne Shorter stood out. A masterful saxophonist, playing with equal doses of tenacity and grace, Shorter is also one of the greatest composers in jazz history. Over 50 years, he has built an imposing catalog of work, from the Blakey days through Miles Davis’ second great quintet (with Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, and Tony Williams), with innovative jazz fusion band Weather Report, and leading his own ensembles (as immortalized on recordings like Speak No Evil [1965], Native Dancer [1974, with Milton Nascimento], and Beyond the Sound Barrier [2005]).

Shorter continues to innovate. His appearance this Spring Season highlights two sides of his ongoing creative energy: a performance with his acclaimed quartet (featuring pianist Danilo Perez, bassist John Pattittuci, and drummer Brian Blade), and a collaboration with the Imani Winds on the Shorter-penned piece “Terra Incognita.” Shorter’s recent quartet plays “jazz of the highest order,” and has “inspired a level of attentive fandom that hasn’t been seen much in jazz since the days of Miles and Coltrane” (The New York Times). For their part, the Imani Winds represent “the future of…the wind quartet” (Washington Post). Shorter’s “Terra Incognita” is a chamber piece written for the Imani Winds, and has been a regular part of their repertoire over the past few years. Don’t miss the Bay Area premiere of their storied Shorter-Imani collaboration.

The Shorter Project continues with an exhilarating tribute: “The Latin Side of Wayne Shorter” (4/5) following in the footsteps of two other groundbreaking “Latin Side” projects from Grammy-winning producer and trombonist Conrad Herwig, devoted to John Coltrane and Miles Davis. This time around, Herwig’s band welcomes legendary Latin jazz pianist Eddie Palmieri, a nine-time Grammy winner and unrelenting diplomat for Latin jazz, whose exuberant spirit and brilliant playing add fire and panache to every performance.

In his work with the SFJAZZ Collective and his own acclaimed releases for Marsalis Music, alto saxophonist Miguel Zenón has established himself as a remarkably talented composer and performer. On June 1, he joins the next generation of jazz explorers, the SFJAZZ High School All-Stars, for a Spring Season performance paying tribute to Wayne Shorter’s compositional genius. The All-Stars are composed of the Bay Area’s finest student musicians, and their Spring Season concert is a graduation celebration—a chance to let loose with everything they’ve learned.

Speaking of the SFJAZZ Collective, SFJAZZ’s all-star octet tackles Shorter’s repertoire, as well as its own all-new compositions, in its only 2008 Bay Area concert at UC Berkeley’s Zellerbach Hall (3/15). The performance, presented by Cal Performances, represents the Bay Area debut of new Collective members Joe Lovano (saxophones), Stefon Harris (vibes), and Robin Eubanks (trombone).

Witness youth education in action on February 14, as the SFJAZZ Collective delivers an Informance for Bay Area music students at the Nob Hill Masonic Center’s California Room. Part concert, part Question and Answer session, the Informance is a rare, behind-the-scenes peek at the Collective’s residency period, open to SFJAZZ Members and a guest. Space is extremely limited. To RSVP call 415-398-5655 x125 or email members@sfjazz.org.

Finally, Shorter and members of the SFJAZZ Collective will make a special guest performance at this year’s SFJAZZ 25th Anniversary Gala. This silver-anniversary fete, to be held May 16 at the Four Seasons Hotel, will be an elegant evening featuring premium cocktails and gourmet food, with all proceeds benefiting SFJAZZ’s artistic and educational programs. For more information on the Gala, see page 7.