The Soothsayer

Last updated
The Soothsayer
The Soothsayer.jpg
Studio album by
Released1979;
1990 (CD)
RecordedMarch 4, 1965
Studio Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ
Genre Post-bop
Length50:21
Label Blue Note
LT 988;
CDP 7 84443 2
Producer Alfred Lion
Wayne Shorter chronology
Speak No Evil
(1965)
The Soothsayer
(1979)
Et Cetera
(1965)

The Soothsayer is the seventh album by Wayne Shorter, recorded in 1965, but not released on Blue Note until 1979. [1] The album features five originals by Shorter and an arrangement of Jean Sibelius' "Valse Triste". The featured musicians are trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, alto saxophonist James Spaulding, pianist McCoy Tyner, bassist Ron Carter and drummer Tony Williams.

Contents

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [2]
Tom Hull B+ [3]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [4]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [5]

Reviewing a 1990 reissue, the Chicago Tribune noted that "the result is hard-driving and as edgy as the time at which it was made." [6] The AllMusic review by Stacia Proefrock stated that "it ranks with the best of his works from this incredibly fertile period". [2]

Track listing

Original release (1979)

All compositions by Wayne Shorter except where noted.
A1. "Lost" – 7:12
A2. "Angola" – 4:48
A3. "The Big Push" – 8:18
B1. "The Soothsayer" – 9:35
B2. "Lady Day" – 5:31
B3. "Valse Triste" (Jean Sibelius) – 7:37

Bonus track on CD reissue (1990)

7. "Angola" [alternate take] – 7:35

Personnel

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freddie Hubbard</span> American jazz trumpeter (1938–2008)

Frederick Dewayne Hubbard was an American jazz trumpeter. He played bebop, hard bop, and post-bop styles from the early 1960s onwards. His unmistakable and influential tone contributed to new perspectives for modern jazz and bebop.

<i>Speak No Evil</i> 1966 studio album by Wayne Shorter

Speak No Evil is the sixth album by Wayne Shorter. It was released in June 1966 by Blue Note Records. The music combines elements of hard bop and modal jazz, and features Shorter on tenor saxophone, trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, pianist Herbie Hancock, bassist Ron Carter and drummer Elvin Jones. The cover photo is of Shorter's first wife, Teruko (Irene) Nakagami, whom he met in 1961.

<i>JuJu</i> (album) 1965 studio album by Wayne Shorter

JuJu is the fifth album by American jazz saxophonist Wayne Shorter. It was released in July 1965 by Blue Note Records. It features a rhythm section of pianist McCoy Tyner, bassist Reggie Workman and drummer Elvin Jones, all of whom had worked extensively with Shorter's fellow tenor saxophonist John Coltrane.

<i>Olé Coltrane</i> 1961 studio album by John Coltrane

Olé Coltrane is an album by jazz musician John Coltrane released in November 1961 on Atlantic Records. The album was recorded at A&R Studios in New York, and was the last of Coltrane's Atlantic albums to be made under his own supervision.

<i>One Night with Blue Note</i> 1985 American film

One Night with Blue Note is a 1985 feature length jazz film directed by John Charles Jopson.

<i>The All Seeing Eye</i> 1966 studio album by Wayne Shorter

The All Seeing Eye is the ninth jazz album by saxophonist Wayne Shorter, recorded on October 15, 1965, and released on the Blue Note label as BLP 4219 and BST 84219 in 1966. The album features performances by Shorter with trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, trombonist Grachan Moncur III, alto saxophonist James Spaulding, pianist Herbie Hancock, bassist Ron Carter and drummer Joe Chambers. Shorter's brother, Alan composed and plays fluegelhorn on the final track, “Mephistopheles”. The AllMusic review by Scott Yanow states: "it is clear from the start that the music on this CD reissue is not basic bop and blues... the dramatic selections, and their brand of controlled freedom has plenty of subtle surprises. This is stimulating music that still sounds fresh over three decades later".

<i>VSOP</i> (album) 1977 live album by Herbie Hancock

V.S.O.P. is a 1977 double live album by keyboardist Herbie Hancock, featuring acoustic jazz performances by the V.S.O.P. Quintet, jazz fusion/ jazz-funk performances by the ‘Mwandishi’ band and The Headhunters. The concert was advertised as a "Herbie Hancock Retrospective," and Miles Davis, who was several months into his temporary retirement, was advertised as playing with the V.S.O.P. group. According to concert attendees, on the night of the show a handwritten sign was posted on the lobby door announcing that Davis would not be playing, but that Hubbard would be appearing instead.

<i>A Slice of the Top</i> 1979 studio album by Hank Mobley

A Slice of the Top is an album by jazz saxophonist Hank Mobley, recorded in early 1966. The album was not released on the Blue Note label until 1979. It features performances by Mobley with a larger than usual ensemble of trumpeter Lee Morgan, euphonium player Kiane Zawadi, tuba player Howard Johnson, alto saxophonist James Spaulding, pianist McCoy Tyner, bassist Bob Cranshaw, and drummer Billy Higgins. The arrangements were written by Duke Pearson. On the original LP, Reggie Workman was mistakenly identified on the sleeve as the bassist.

<i>Open Sesame</i> (Freddie Hubbard album) 1960 studio album by Freddie Hubbard

Open Sesame is the debut album by then 22 years old trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, recorded on June 19, 1960 by Rudy Van Gelder at his studio in Englewood Cliffs, NJ and released on the Blue Note label in 1960 in mono as BLP 4040 and in stereo as BST 84040. It features performances by Hubbard, Tina Brooks, McCoy Tyner, Sam Jones and Clifford Jarvis. In 1988, Capitol Records issued it on compact disc with Michael Cuscuna as reissue producer and in 2001, they released a version remastered by Rudy Van Gelder.

<i>Ready for Freddie</i> 1962 studio album by Freddie Hubbard

Ready for Freddie is an album by trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, released on the Blue Note label in 1962 as BLP 4085 and BST 84085. In 2003, it was remastered and issued on CD with the addition of two alternate takes. It contains performances by Hubbard, Bernard McKinney, Wayne Shorter, McCoy Tyner, Art Davis and Elvin Jones.

<i>Blue Spirits</i> 1967 studio album by Freddie Hubbard

Blue Spirits is an album by trumpeter Freddie Hubbard released on the Blue Note label. It would be his last studio album for Blue Note, recorded in the 1960s. It features performances by Hubbard, James Spaulding, Joe Henderson, Harold Mabern, Jr., Larry Ridley, Clifford Jarvis, Big Black, Kiane Zawadi, Hank Mobley, McCoy Tyner, Bob Cranshaw, Pete LaRoca. The CD release added tracks from a 1966 session featuring Hosea Taylor, Herbie Hancock, Reggie Workman, and Elvin Jones.

<i>The Night of the Cookers: Live at Club la Marchal</i> 1965 live album by Freddie Hubbard

The Night of the Cookers: Live at Club la Marchal, Vols. 1 & 2 are a pair of separate but related live albums by American jazz trumpeter Freddie Hubbard recorded at la Marchal jazz club over Friday and Saturday night, April 9–10, 1965 and released on Blue Note in 1965 and 1966 respectively. The septet features horn section Lee Morgan, James Spaulding, rhythm section Harold Mabern, Jr., Larry Ridley and Pete LaRoca, and percussionist Big Black.

<i>Tender Moments</i> 1968 studio album by McCoy Tyner

Tender Moments is the eighth album by jazz pianist McCoy Tyner and his second released on the Blue Note label. It was recorded in December 1967 and features performances by Tyner with an expanded group featuring trumpeter Lee Morgan, trombonist Julian Priester, French horn player Bob Northern, tuba player Howard Johnson, alto saxophonist James Spaulding, tenor saxophonist Bennie Maupin, bassist Herbie Lewis and drummer Joe Chambers.

<i>Expansions</i> (McCoy Tyner album) 1970 studio album by McCoy Tyner

Expansions is the tenth album by jazz pianist McCoy Tyner and his fourth released on the Blue Note label. It was recorded in August 1968 and features performances by Tyner with trumpeter Woody Shaw, alto saxophonist Gary Bartz, tenor saxophonist Wayne Shorter, bassist Ron Carter, bassist Herbie Lewis and drummer Freddie Waits.

<i>Extensions</i> (McCoy Tyner album) 1973 studio album by McCoy Tyner

Extensions is the eleventh album by jazz pianist McCoy Tyner released on the Blue Note label. It was recorded on February 9, 1970, but not released until January 1973. It has performances by Tyner with alto saxophonist Gary Bartz, tenor saxophonist Wayne Shorter, bassist Ron Carter, drummer Elvin Jones, and features Alice Coltrane playing harp on three of the four tracks.

<i>Together</i> (McCoy Tyner album) 1979 studio album by McCoy Tyner

Together is a 1979 album by jazz pianist McCoy Tyner released on the Milestone label. It was recorded in August and September 1978 and features performances by Tyner with trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, flautist Hubert Laws, tenor saxophonist/bass clarinetist Bennie Maupin, vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson, bassist Stanley Clarke, drummer Jack DeJohnette and percussionist Bill Summers.

<i>Quartets 4 X 4</i> 1980 studio album by McCoy Tyner

Quartets 4 X 4 is a 1980 album by jazz pianist McCoy Tyner, released on the Milestone label. It was recorded in March and May 1980 by Tyner with bassist Cecil McBee and drummer Al Foster and featuring trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, guitarist John Abercrombie, vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson and alto saxophonist Arthur Blythe, each for one side of the original double LP. The album was digitally remastered and first issued on a single CD in 1993.

<i>13th House</i> 1981 studio album by McCoy Tyner

13th House is a 1981 album by jazz pianist McCoy Tyner released on the Milestone label. It was recorded in October 1980 and features performances by Tyner with a big band that includes alto saxophonist Joe Ford, flautist Hubert Laws, tenor saxophonist Ricky Ford, trombonist Slide Hampton, bassist Ron Carter and trumpeters Oscar Brashear and Charles Sullivan.

<i>Lush Life</i> (Lou Donaldson album) 1980 studio album by Lou Donaldson

Lush Life is an album by jazz saxophonist Lou Donaldson recorded for the Blue Note label in 1967 and featuring Donaldson with Freddie Hubbard, Garnett Brown, Jerry Dodgion, Wayne Shorter, Pepper Adams, McCoy Tyner, Ron Carter, and Al Harewood performing arrangements by Duke Pearson. Due to the success of Donaldson's Alligator Bogaloo (1967) the album was not released until 1980 in Japan under the title Sweet Slumber and then finally released decades later internationally.

<i>Sweet Honey Bee</i> 1967 studio album by Duke Pearson

Sweet Honey Bee is an album by American jazz pianist and composer Duke Pearson, released on the Blue Note label in 1967. The woman on the cover was Pearson's fiancee Betty.

References

  1. Wayne Shorter discography accessed August 3, 2011.
  2. 1 2 Proefrock, S. AllMusic Review accessed August 3, 2011.
  3. "Tom Hull: Grade List: Wayne Shorter". Tom Hull . Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  4. Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 1296. ISBN   978-0-141-03401-0.
  5. Swenson, J., ed. (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide . USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. pp.  180. ISBN   0-394-72643-X.
  6. Fuller, Jack (15 July 1990). "Hard-driving classics from Wayne Shorter". Arts. Chicago Tribune. p. 20.