Wayne Shorter - Speak No Evil

MURRAY HORWITZ, American Film Institute: Now, there's a composition into which any good jazz musician would love to sink his or her teeth. Hi, I'm Murray Horwitz, and that's the sound of jazz composition of the highest order, played by the very best instrumentalists. And that's why we're inducting composer and saxophonist Wayne Shorter's Speak No Evil into the NPR Basic Jazz Record Library.

HORWITZ: Wayne Shorter had already made his mark as a jazz composer by 1964, when this album was made. It was a little while after he had joined what became one of Miles Davis' greatest quintets. His compositions were to be one of the reasons for that greatness. But Speak No Evil is sort of a consolidation of Wayne Shorter's compositional excellence. It's so thorough and consistent and wide-ranging. It's almost a manifesto for his ideas. Those ideas were new 40 years ago, but they're still fresh today.

HORWITZ: I have to resist the temptation to use too many adjectives like "moody," "atmospheric" and "original," but Speak No Evil is all of those things. At the same time, it keeps a classic jazz flavor. It swings, and it's filled with the blues, wonderful improvisations and terrific ensemble playing. And what an ensemble! Bassist Ron Carter, drummer Elvin Jones, pianist Herbie Hancock, and trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, in addition to Wayne Shorter. How they play together!

HORWITZ: All in all, a classic and truly basic addition to your NPR Basic Jazz Record Library from five contemporary master musicians. It's called Wayne Shorter, Speak No Evil from Blue Note Records. For NPR Jazz, I'm Murray Horwitz.

Tracklist

1 Witch Hunt 

(Rudy Van Gelder Edition) (1999 Digital Remaster) 8:09 8

2 Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum 

(Rudy Van Gelder Edition) (1999 Digital Remaster) 5:52 11

3 Dance Cadaverous 

(Rudy Van Gelder Edition) (1999 Digital Remaster) 6:44 9

4 Speak No Evil 

(Rudy Van Gelder Edition) (1999 Digital Remaster) 8:21 7

5 Infant Eyes 

(Rudy Van Gelder Edition) (1999 Digital Remaster) 6:52 8

6 Wild Flower 

(Rudy Van Gelder Edition) (1999 Digital Remaster) 6:05 5

7 Dance Cadaverous (Alternate Take) 

(Rudy Van Gelder Edition) (1999 Digital Remaster) 6:33 5

Wayne Shorter - tenor sax
Herbie Hancock - piano
Ron Carter - bass
Elvin Jones - drums
Freddie Hubbard - trumpet
Recorded December 24, 1964
Originally released on the album Speak No Evil BLP 4194

Link

Interesting essay on YouTube of "Fee Fi For Fum - Wayne Shorter" is not the same as the master Shorter but it works.

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