Search - Alan Shorter :: Tes Esat

Tes Esat

Stuart Jefferson | San Diego,Ca | 05/29/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Approximately 41 min. Remastered. Yes, this is Wayne Shorter's brother. Alan died in 1987 of heart problems. If you're expecting music sounding like his well-known brother, dismiss that thought right now. Alan Shorter was a musical sculptor,and as such this is the first recording under his name released in any kind of quantity. Playing the trumpet and being Wayne's brother,you might think he is out of the Miles Davis school of trumpet/composition. The closest would be Davis's last period of "free"jazz. Shorter wanted to go beyond what normally plays as jazz.



During this period of jazz,people were looking for something beyond what was currently being played. Shorter,with his group consisting of Gary Windo-tenor sax;Johnny Dyani-double bass,flute,piano,bells and Rene Augustus-drums,wanted to go beyond the boundaries of current thinking. Shorter,who composed all the selections here,wanted to find a path into a more universal music. By now you probably have figured out that this is not your easy-listening or even straight ahead jazz. The music is challenging,sometimes dense,sometimes open. This is music one would listen to,to educate and refine one's knowledge and appreciation of jazz and music in general.



This is music that must be listened to and actually heard in order to gain insight into what was being attempted. Attempted is the right word,for Shorter,and others like him,there was never an end in sight or a goal that has been reached. The constant searching was what was important and this album is a perfect example of that."