Throughout the 1970s and much of the ’80s, Shorter and keyboard player Joe Zawinul together led Weather Report, a fusion band that explored an uncommon variety of sound colors. He returned frequently to the tenor saxophone and in later years led his fusion music groups.
Shorter’s improvising was always notable for its great harmonic and rhythmic sophistication. His early tenor saxophone solos, inspired by Sonny Rollins, featured rare formal unity using thematic improvisation techniques, often with drama and humor (“Afrique,” “High Modes”).
What are some fun facts about Wayne Shorter?
Shorter continued to perform into the early 21st century, and his later albums included Atlantis (1985), High Life (1995), Without a Net (2013), and Emanon (2018); the last two were among several that featured the quartet of Shorter, Danilo Pérez (piano), John Patitucci (bass), and Brian Blade (drums).
Shorter received more than 10 Grammy Awards, including a lifetime achievement award in 2015. He was named a Jazz Master by the National Endowment for the Arts in 1998 and received a Kennedy Center Honor in 2018.
