Wayne Shorter
has written a number of landmark
jazz
compositions that have found favor among fellow
musicians, but
Mysterious Shorter
marks a rare occasion when an entire CD is devoted to his music. Trumpeter
Nicholas Payton
heads a strong quintet, including saxophonist
Bob Belden
(who doubles on soprano and tenor saxes, like
Shorter
, and contributed all of the arrangements), organist
Sam Yahel
, guitarist
John Hart
, and drummer
Billy Drummond
. Since six of the eight songs are from
's early
Blue Note
CDs prior to his move toward
fusion
, the substitution of
Yahel
's laid-back organ for the more striking sound of the piano softens the sound of
Belden
's charts, giving them a bit more of a mysterious flavor, especially in the brisk, playful setting of
"Footprints."
Payton
is known for his powerful trumpet playing, but displays a quiet lyrical touch in
"Teru."
's charts also fit
's
material well.
Chesky
's single-point microphone adds to the intimacy of this rewarding session, issued as a hybrid Super Audio disc. ~ Ken Dryden