Title:
Finding the Blues in the Music of Wayne Shorter
Author(s):
Ethan Ebert
Author Email:
eebert@unca.edu
Department:
MUSIC
Faculty Mentor(s):
Brian Felix
Abstract / Summary:
Wayne Shorter is one of the most influential composers of jazz music of the last century, alongside renowned jazz legends such as Duke Ellington and Thelonious Monk. “Shorter’s discography has a wide range of styles, forms, and complexity, and he has been recognized as a saxophonist of elliptical eloquence and a composer of farsighted and revealing imagination.” (Nate Chinen, Aug. 25, 2023, NPR). There have been many attempts to explain the quirkiness, oddities, and explorations of his compositions. However, there has been relatively little focus on how the blues interacts with his compositions. I will explore the music of Wayne Shorter to uncover the embedded blues in his compositions. Shorter’s music, and playing style, have a heavy influence from the blues and it can be seen in his compositions on a deep level. I will explain recurring blues elements that appear in a few select tunes, including “Infant Eyes,” “Witch Hunt,” and “Deluge.” These specific tunes highlight Shorter's strong blues influence in his compositions while showing that blues is not just a style of music but also a form of expression. I will explore how Shorter uses form, melody, and harmony to relate back to the main concepts and traditions of the blues, and blues forms.
Publication Date:
May-14-2024
Documents: