Wayne Shorterone of the greatest American composers and saxophonists jazzdied Thursday in a Los Angeles hospital. He was 89 years old, according to The New York Times. His press representative, Alisse Kingsley, confirmed the death. The cause of death was not immediately stated.
The newspaper recalls that in the 1960s, Shorter was the tenor saxophonist and lead composer in the pacesetters of two of the most famous small groups in jazz history – Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers i Miles Davis Quintet. Then, along with Davis and as the leader of Weather Report, he helped start it fusion trendwhich gathered a lot of fans.
“He also forged a connection with popular music, collaborating with singer Joni Mitchell, guitarist Carlos Santana and the band Steely Dan, whose 1977 song “Aja” reaches a dynamic climax with his tenor solo, adds the New York daily.
Wayne Shorter is dead. “Jazz Titan”
— Wayne Shorter opened new eras in the history of jazz. Firstly in the band of Miles Daviswhen, in the 1960s, he changed the style and concept of playing his quintet, introducing it to new tracks – assessed the Polish saxophonist Krzysztof Medyna, who lives in America.
In his opinion, the second breakthrough made by Shorter is related to the Weather Report teamwhich he co-directed with Joe Zawinul. As he emphasized, this group was a global phenomenon, representing a new style in jazz.
— Wayne Shorter is a full-blown jazz titan Medina noted.
He pointed out that in the 1970s Shorter’s playing had a great influence on young Polish musicians who were looking for a way out of the “freezing” mainstream. He also included himself in this group, especially in relation to the relationship of the American saxophonist with Weather Report.
(Sources: “The New York Times”, PAP)
