Wayne Shorter

Full Personnel: Wayne Shorter (ts), Lee Morgan (tp), Wynton Kelly (p), Paul Chambers (b) & Jimmy Cobb (d on #1-6) or Philly Joe Jones (d on #7-11).

Includes the complete albums "Introducing Wayne Shorter" (tracks #1-6. Recorded in New York, November 9 & 10, 1959 for the Vee Jay label) and "Kelly Great" (tracks #7-11. Recorded in New York, August 12, 1959 for the Vee Jay label.

Also known as Blues A La Carte, "Introducing Wayne Shorter" is tenor-saxophonist Wayne Shorter's first session as a leader and it shows that, even at this early stage, Shorter was far along toward developing his own sound. The six selections (five of which are Shorter originals) capture the young tenor shortly after he joined Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. The music is essentially hard bop and, although none of these Shorter tunes caught on, the music is quite enjoyable. A special treat is the one standard of the date, a swinging version of "Mack The Knife." (AMG)


On "Kelly Great", pianist Wynton Kelly teams up with trumpeter Lee Morgan, tenor saxophonist Wayne Shorter, bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Philly Joe Jones for a fine advanced hard bop date. There are four originals by Kelly, Shorter and Morgan but it is the lone standard, a playful version of "June Night" (which has some puckish Morgan trumpet), that is the standout. Th is formerly-rare session should satisfy collectors of the style. (AMG)

Tracks: 1. Blues A La Carte, 2. Harry's Last Stand, 3. Down In The Depths, 4. Pug Nose, 5. Black Diamond, 6. Mack The Knife, 7. Wrinkles, 8. Mama "G", 9. June Night, 10. What Know, 11. Sidney.

Total time: 74:51 mins.