Wayne Shorter – Biography, Discography & Instruments

Biography

Wayne Shorter was a jazz musician who played saxophone, tenor saxophone, alto saxophone and soprano saxophone. Wayne Shorter was born on 25 August 1933 in Newark and died on 2 March 2023 in Los Angeles. The music is usually filed under jazz, jazz fusion and post-bop. Record labels: Blue Note. The discography here lists 27 albums, from “Introducing Wayne Shorter” (1960) to “Celebration, Volume 1 (Live)” (2024). Honours include Guggenheim Fellowship (2016), NEA Jazz Masters and Doris Duke Performing Artist Award.

Wayne Shorter (August 25, 1933 – March 2, 2023) was an American jazz saxophonist, composer, and bandleader, widely regarded as one of the most important and influential figures in the history of jazz. Over a career spanning more than six decades, he received 12 Grammy Awards and the Polar Music Prize, and was acclaimed worldwide for his originality, compositional depth, and transformative approach to musical improvisation. Shorter first rose to mainstream prominence in 1959 after joining Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, where he quickly became the ensemble's primary composer and one of its defining creative voices. In 1964, he joined Miles Davis's Second Great Quintet, contributing compositions and performances that helped shape one of the most innovative and influential periods in jazz history.

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Discography

Studio and live albums

Introducing Wayne Shorter 1960

Wayning Moments 1962

Juju 1964

Night Dreamer 1964

Speak No Evil 1965

The All Seeing Eye 1966

Adam’s Apple 1967

Schizophrenia 1969

Super Nova 1970

Odyssey of Iska 1971

Moto Grosso Feio 1974

Native Dancer 1975

The Soothsayer 1979

Etcetera 1980

Atlantis 1985

Phantom Navigator 1987

Tribute to John Coltrane: Live Under the Sky 1987 · Live

Joy Ryder 1988

En concert avec Europe 1: Olympia, 13 Mai 1961 1993 · Live

Second Genesis 1993

High Life 1995

Portrait 1996

Footprints Live! 2002 · Live

Alegría 2003

Emanon 2018

Live at the Detroit Jazz Festival 2022 · Live

Celebration, Volume 1 (Live) 2024 · Live

Also plays on

Albums where Wayne Shorter is credited as a sideman

1965	E.S.P. — Miles Davis	tenor saxophone
1967	Sorcerer — Miles Davis	tenor saxophone
1968	Miles in the Sky — Miles Davis	tenor saxophone
1968	Nefertiti — Miles Davis	tenor saxophone
1969	In a Silent Way — Miles Davis	soprano saxophone
1969	Filles de Kilimanjaro — Miles Davis	tenor saxophone
1970	Bitches Brew — Miles Davis	soprano saxophone
1974	Big Fun — Miles Davis	tenor saxophone
1975	Man-Child — Herbie Hancock	soprano saxophone
1976	Water Babies — Miles Davis	tenor saxophone
1977	Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter — Joni Mitchell	soprano saxophone
1979	Mingus — Joni Mitchell	soprano saxophone
1980	The Swing of Delight — Devadip Carlos Santana	soprano saxophone
1982	Wild Things Run Fast — Joni Mitchell	soprano saxophone
1984	Sound-System — Herbie Hancock	Lyricon, saxophone
1985	Dog Eat Dog — Joni Mitchell	soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone
1988	Chalk Mark in a Rain Storm — Joni Mitchell	saxophone
1991	Night Ride Home — Joni Mitchell	soprano saxophone
1994	Turbulent Indigo — Joni Mitchell	soprano saxophone
2000	Both Sides Now — Joni Mitchell	soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone

Standards written by Wayne Shorter

Title	Key	Form	Groove
Dolores	D♭ major	AABAA · 38	Up-tempo swing
E.S.P.	F major	AA · 32	Up-tempo swing
Footprints	C minor	A · 24	Jazz waltz
Speak No Evil	C minor	AAB · 50	Medium swing
Adam's Apple	A♭ major	A · 24	Even eighths
Infant Eyes	E♭ major	BAA · 27	Ballad
Juju	B major	A · 24	Jazz waltz
Iris	F minor	A · 16	Jazz waltz
Nefertiti	A♭ major	A · 16	Slow swing
Beauty And The Beast	F major	AAAA · 32	Funk
Dance Cadaverous	C major	AB · 64	Jazz waltz
Fall	E minor	A · 16	Ballad
Limbo	C major	A · 17	Jazz waltz
Pinocchio	E♭ minor	A · 18	Up-tempo swing
Prince Of Darkness	C minor	A · 24	Medium-up swing
United	F major	AA · 32	Jazz waltz
Ana Maria	G major	ABBC · 46	Even eighths
Armageddon	B♭ minor	AA · 36	Medium swing
Backstage Sally	F minor	A · 16	Medium swing
Black Nile	D minor	AABA · 32	Up-tempo swing
Children Of The Night	C minor	A · 28	Medium swing
El Gaucho	F major	A · 18	Bossa nova
Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum	B♭ major	ABA · 24	Medium swing
House Of Jade	C minor	ABA · 24	Slow swing
Mahjong	F minor	ABCA · 28	Latin
Miyako	A major	A · 28	Jazz waltz
Night Dreamer	G major	A · 16	Jazz waltz
One By One	G minor	AABA · 32	Medium-up swing
Ping Pong	C major	AAB · 48	Medium-up swing
Toy Tune	F major	AABA · 28	Medium swing
Virgo	F major	ABC · 29	Ballad
Wild Flower	B♭ major	AB · 32	Jazz waltz
Witch Hunt	C minor	A · 24	Slow swing
Yes And No	D major	AAB · 44	Up-tempo swing