Mysterious Shorter [Super Audio CD - DSD]

Nicholas Payton | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 24, 2006)
• Please Note: Requires SACD-compatible hardware
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Super Audio CD - DSD
• Label: Chesky Records
• ASIN: B000IFRQQI
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #207,833 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Montezuma

2. Tom Thumb

3. Footprints

4. Teru

5. Witch Hunt

6. Masqalero

7. Beauty And The Beast

8. Miyako

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Session, December 18, 2006

By 

Henry S. Brent "hsbrent" (Marietta, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mysterious Shorter (Audio CD)

What can be said about an album of tunes by an incredible composer and their interpretation by an all-star aggregation of musicians? It is gratifying to hear some hard-core playing again in 2006-- the musicians attack this material and make it their own. Wayne should be proud. Highly recommended.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars X-large Shorter, February 6, 2007

By 

C. E. Silva Rios (Caracas, Distrito Capital Venezuela) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mysterious Shorter (Audio CD)

Great music masterfully played by great players. Payton is solid, Belden tributes his main influence, Yahel is just discrete, and Drummond is a master drummer. Check this out: it grooves.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The first of its kind -, September 17, 2008

By 

Kevin W. Celebi "Jazz Musician" (Greencastle, IN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mysterious Shorter (Audio CD)

The eight selections on this compact disc represent the best and most intriguing of Wayne Shorter's compositional career. Why is this the first major recording to perform the music of Shorter? Have other musicians been cowering from the opportunity? "Mysterious" is a perfect quality achieved, thanks to the misty sound of the organ, the dark arrangements of Bob Belden, and the spacey guitar of Jon Hart, and the single-mic in the center of the room recording style. So there is mystery, and there is Shorter.

The recording is underwhelming, though. What happened to Nicholas Payton? He really was coming into his own style, culminating around albums like his own Sonic Trance and his landmark M-base with Greg Osby. But on Mysterious Shorter he sounds like he's trying way too hard. On the first track, "Montezuma," he deliberately cuts out of the chord changes, angularly slicing through the minor tones and jarring with dissonance, and then plays a sloppy sixteenth note run that lasts about seven measures, sounding like a bizarre mix of Woody Shaw and Don Cherry. And on Footprints, he starts with an odd syncopation figure that he continues for seemingly ever, which really doesn't go anywhere - which, like I said, gives the impression that he's trying too hard to be "different" instead of being himself. He gets props for trying to be adventuresome, but he sounds almost nothing like his former self - his tone is thinner and lacks the powerful conviction from his blowing on, say, DEAR LOUIS. Not to say I'm not his biggest fan - he's my favorite jazz trumpet player and I shelled a bunch of money out for this CD just to hear him - but to say I was disappointed hits the mark. His ballad feature, Teru, is searching and at beautiful, but there are a lot of cracked notes and un-interesting lines. This was played for a blindfold test, to Eddie Henderson, and he didn't even recognize Nick. Was this after his car crash? The saxophone playing of Bob Belden is underwhelming, too, but his arranging skills more than make up for it.

The rhythm section really hits a groove, however. The horns lay out for the last track, "Miyako," which is really one of Shorter's most tender melodies. They also develop a greasy, almost unhealthy groove jam during Tom Thumb, which is too-often butchered by organ trios. The organ playing of Yahel is elusive and never hits a conventional chord; such imaginative voicings and basslines. Billy Drummond is a veteran drummer and can really hit the skins, especially on a waltz like Footprints.

The music is beautiful and evokes mystery at times, especially courtesy of the talented rhythm section and occasional ebullient moments from Payton, but I really do think that Wayne Shorter deserves a much higher-quality tribute. An organ trio was a good start, but sometimes you just need a pianist that can recall Herbie Hancock or McCoy Tyner to get the full flavor out of Shorter's shades and harmonic twists. And the tenor player should be able to remind you of him as well! It's a worthwhile CD, but should be reserved for hardcore fans of Payton/Wayne Shorter; there is much better modern jazz out there.
kc