Phantom Navigator

Phantom Navigator
Cover art by Jean-Francois Podevin
Studio album by Wayne Shorter
Released	1987
Recorded	1986
Studio	Mad Hatter (Los Angeles, CA) The Power Station (New York City, NY)
Genre	Jazz
Length	38:25
Label	Columbia
Producer	Wayne Shorter
Wayne Shorter chronology
Atlantis (1985) Phantom Navigator (1987) Joy Ryder (1988)

Phantom Navigator is an album by the American jazz saxophonist Wayne Shorter, released on Columbia Records in 1987. ^{[1] [2]} Chick Corea played piano on "Mahogany Bird". ^[3]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[4]
Los Angeles Times	[5]
Windsor Star	C− [6]

The Windsor Star wrote that "the tunes are superficial, the concentration is on soprano sax, generally thin and shrill here, everything buried by batteries of keyboards, vampy electric bass and the thudding monotony of drum machines." ^[6] The Los Angeles Times determined that "the creative level simply does not reflect Shorter's talents to optimum effect." ^[5] The Philadelphia Inquirer called the album "bitterly disappointing fluff." ^[7]

The AllMusic review by Richard S. Ginell stated: "On a sheer technical level, Wayne's soprano and tenor work is alright, yet on 'Yamanja' he does a depressingly mechanical sounding turn on a lyricon. Pass this right by." ^[4]

Track listing

All compositions by Wayne Shorter.

1. "Condition Red" – 5:08
2. "Mahogany Bird" – 6:10
3. "Remote Control" – 7:55
4. "Yamanja" – 6:28
5. "Forbidden, Plan-It!" – 6:09
6. "Flagships" – 6:35

Personnel

Musicians

• Wayne Shorter – soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone (tracks 1, 3, 5–6), lyricon (4)
• Erik Hansen – synthesizer programming
• Paul Heckert – additional synthesizer programming
• Mitchel Forman – synthesizers (1), acoustic piano (4 & 6), additional keyboards (4 & 6)
• Chick Corea – acoustic piano (2)
• Stu Goldberg – synthesizers (2, 4–6), additional keyboards (3)
• Jim Beard – synthesizers (3, 5)
• Jeff Bova – synthesizers (3)
• Gary Willis – bass guitar (1), electric bass (2)
• John Patitucci – acoustic bass (2), bass guitar (4–5)
• Alphonso Johnson – bass guitar (3)
• Tom Brechtlein – drums (1)
• Jimmy Bralower – drums (3), percussion programming (3)
• Scott Roberts – percussion (2, 4–6), drum programming (4–5)
• Bill Summers – percussion (2, 4–5), drum programming (4–5)
• Ana Maria Shorter – intro vocals (4)
• Gregor Goldberg – vocals (6)

Production

• Wayne Shorter – producer, illustration
• George Butler – executive producer
• K2 – co-producer, engineer, mixing
• Duncan Aldrich – assistant engineer (tracks 1–2, 4–6)
• Gary Duncan – assistant engineer (1–2, 4–6)
• Steve Krause – mix assistant (1–2, 4–6)
• Michael Christopher – assistant engineer (3)
• Bob Ludwig – mastering
• Nancy Donald – art direction
• Tony Lane – art direction
• Jean-Francois Podevin – illustration

References

1. Miller, Mark (February 26, 1987). "Phantom Navigator Wayne Shorter". The Globe and Mail. p. C3.
2. Tesser, Neil (April 15, 1987). "Jazz". USA Today. p. 5D.
3. Wissink, Steve (April 12, 1987). "Shorter's Variety Intriguing". Sun-Sentinel. p. 3F.
4. Ginell, R. AllMusic Review accessed September 17, 2011
5. Feather, Leonard (March 22, 1987). "'Phantom Navigator' Wayne Shorter". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 70.
6. Stevens, Peter (February 28, 1987). "Record Review". Windsor Star. p. C2.
7. Davis, Francis (April 24, 1987). "Saxophonist Wayne Shorter...". Features Weekend. The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 24.