Milkyway Express: Tribute Music of Wayne Shorter

Rachel Z | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 22, 2000)
• Original Release Date: August 22, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Tone Center
• ASIN: B00004VW4F
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #202,693 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Pinocchio

2. El Gaucho

3. Fall

4. Footprints

5. Dolores

6. Iris

7. Black Nile

8. Witch Hunt

9. Black Swan in Memory of Portland

10. Three Marias

11. On the Milky Way Express

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Manhattan-born pianist Rachel Z regards veteran saxophonist Wayne Shorter as a genius, whose music "creates a glimpse into the mystical beauty and nature of life" and offers a "reflection of the life condition of enlightenment and love." Z, the disciple, honors her teacher lovingly and imaginatively on this straight-ahead tribute to Shorter's talents as a composer. Z, whose approach to classical studies at age 15 was transformed when she heard Shorter's music on Miles Smiles, was recruited by Shorter to handle orchestrations for his Grammy-winning 1995 contemporary jazz release, High Life. Here, Z addresses 11 of Shorter's works in a trio setting, joined by bassist Miriam Sullivan (whose credits include work with Wynton Marsalis and Lionel Hampton) and drummer Allison Miller. Recorded on two-track, their approach is refreshingly spare, earnest, and spirited, making lasting lyrical impressions with their winning interpretations of "Black Nile," "Three Marias," and a sagaciously swinging "Witch Hunt." A night-and-day departure from her smooth-jazz disc Love Is the Power, On the Milky Way Express has such intelligent playing that it's simultaneously serene and alert, a lesson in composition taught by Shorter and clearly absorbed by his student. --Terry Wood

From Jazziz

Rachel Z's new album, On the Milky Way Express, is an all-acoustic effort from her impressively focused all-female trio, featuring bassist Miriam Sullivan and drummer Allison Miller - a band that fills the pianist with barely contained pride. Equally important, the album comprises 11 tunes by her mentor, Wayne Shorter, for whom she first worked as a synth programmer on the 1995 album High Life before joining him on tour for the next two years.

While On the Milky Way Express makes most of the expected stops at Shorter favorites like "El Gaucho" and "Footprints," the trio takes a few well-considered and much-appreciated liberties. Rachel Z has given "Pinocchio" an introductory counter-line that feeds into a simple but effective harmonic revision; the melody line of "Witch Hunt" benefits from slightly displaced accents and an arco bass solo that opens the improvising. And the title track, stripped of the electrically charged sonorities that marked its debut on High Life, reveals itself as an unpretentious bijou.

Rachel Z thinks her subsequent disc will pick up where this one leaves off: On the Milky Way Express includes only three songs written since the 1960s, so she'd next like to tackle Shorter's fusion-era compositions - but in the acoustic format.

--- Neil Tesser, JAZZIZ Magazine Copyright © 2000, Milor Entertainment, Inc.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best new CD I've heard so far this year, September 4, 2000

By 

Lois Roe "jazzsleuth" (Neptune, NJ United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Milkyway Express: Tribute Music of Wayne Shorter (Audio CD)

A relative newcomer to the music of Rachel Z, I was not sure what to expect on my first listen to this. I had seen her in cocert with her trio (+1) playing alternative rock and watched in amazement as she played some evidently two-handed parts with one one hand (due to an injured finger on the other). Her playing was quite impressive in that setting and even more so here on this CD.

The CD has everything one could hope for in a CD: great music and a lot of talent and energy brought to bear on playing it. At times, it becomes quite contemplative and you really have to listen intently to catch it all, but at other times, it really swings and the playing (of all three members of the trio) just reaches out and grabs you. The last two tracks (Three Marias and On the Milkyway Express) are especially rewarding in this way. If you have heard either of Rachel Z's last two CD's, it may help you to know that this one is closer to Room of One's Own than to Love is the Power--but it is still very different from both. If you like really good straightahead jazz, there's a real good chance you will love this CD. I give it my highest recommendation!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Happy, smiling, and Wow!, March 3, 2001

By 

"wrightrc" (Seattle,WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Milkyway Express: Tribute Music of Wayne Shorter (Audio CD)

I first heard Rachel Z on KPLU 88.5FM in Seattle and scrammbled to write down the name when I first heard it! Fresh, invigorating, reminded me of some of the Pat Metheny "trio" works, and Pat Metheny Group in general (minus synths, effects). My feelings were of happiness, joy, and the desire to tell others of a wonderful new Jazz trio I had heard. If Jazz makes you happy, makes you want to explore the world, sing, play, and generally be thankful...Wow, this is a CD to get. These women ROCK (JAZZ?)! Gonna find a ticket to their local gig as soon as can. In short, thank you Rachel Z (and your group). Ahimsa.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars purely magic!, November 12, 2001

By 

itai simon (holon Israel) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Milkyway Express: Tribute Music of Wayne Shorter (Audio CD)

I saw rachel z trio on 22 dec. 2000 at "AlexanderPlatz" in rome,
and bought the disc from her at the end of the concert.
No way i would have gone home without it!!!
I remember she told me that allison (drums) felt a little sick so she wasn't at her best, and i thought, "Oh my god, can she play even better than this ?".
great drum work by allison (interesting rhythms and very nice work on those cymbals).
pure magic from rachel,
You can easily hear how much she loves Wayne Shorter's music,
and i think i hear clasical influences too.
I'm just waiting for a chance to enjoy once more rachel and her trio in concert, meanwhile i spoile my self with the album.
Truly a work of art.

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