Footprints: A Tribute to Wayne Shorter

“Footprints” is the title of an iconic Wayne Shorter composition but also a concept that registers the influence of this great composer and improviser on the history of jazz. Shorter passed away this year on March 2 at the age of 89 but his spirit continues to live on in the legacy of great compositions that he has left for us to play and interpret. Shorter made a name for himself as a sideman in the Art Blakey Jazz Messengers, a band leader for the Blue Note label, the main composer for the Miles Davis Quintet and a founding member of the jazz-rock fusion group Weather Report. For the final Hanover Hall concert of the year, club director and tenor saxophonist Bill Martin has curated two sets of Wayne Shorter compositions that will be performed by the Dunedin Youth Jazz Orchestra and a professional combo featuring the talents of Umar Zacharia (double bass), Jack Ta (piano), Mike Gaches (trumpet) and Carl Woodward (drums).

For the first set, the Dunedin Youth Jazz Orchestra will perform a selection of Wayne Shorter compositions arranged for Big Band. The opening tune “Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum” is a mid-tempo swing number from the Blue Note album Speak No Evil  and the arrangement features the saxophone section playing the melody and a solo by lead alto player Jack Ta. The band will then perform a Mark Taylor arrangement of the tune “One by One”, a composition from Shorter’s time with the Jazz Messengers, which features a funky ostinato pattern for the rhythm section in the shout chorus. Next up is the Latin number “Ana Maria” from the 1975 album titled Native Dancer, a harmonically open composition that will allow a variety of soloists to feature: Hamish Philips on guitar, Pablo Saunders on tenor saxophone and Benji Pickering on the bass trombone. To finish the set, the band will explore a much faster tempo on “Yes or No” from the album Juju, an arrangement by Mike Tomaro with an Afro-Cuban break section and an extended solo from trumpet player Louis Robertson.

The second set will be performed by the Hanover Hall All Stars, featuring double bassist Umar Zacharia who travels from Wellington to perform with a quartet of local players including piano prodigy Jack Ta. Those who have attended “Pop-Up” gigs at the Dish have witnessed Ta’s extreme talent and this concert finally provides him with an opportunity to play the piano in a concert setting with some of his favourite musicians. Ta loves to play bebop and the inclusion of the numbers “Getting to Know You”, “Lester Left Town” and “The Summit” will give him a chance to show his chops. Club director Bill Martin will play tenor saxophone and has chosen the tunes “Juju”, “Witchhunt”, “E.S.P.” and “Footprints”, which register his own obsession with the experimental nature of Shorter’s composition during his Blue Note period and time with the Miles Davis Quintet. American trumpet player Mike Gaches will share the front of stage and allow the band to authentically blow out those tunes originally performed by trumpet players such as Miles Davis and Freddie Hubbard. Holding it all together will be local drummer Carl Woodward, who no doubt will relish playing the part of “Art Blakey” for a few of the tunes!

The Dunedin Jazz Club is a licensed venue with a cash bar. Tickets can be purchased online at djf.org.nz for $10-25 or $30 cash on the door.

The Dunedin Youth Jazz Orchestra directed by Bill Martin

Hanover Hall All Stars

Personnel:

Bill Martin (tenor saxophone)

Mike Gaches (trumpet)

Jack Ta (piano)

Umar Zacharia (double bass)

Carl Woodward (drums)

Timings: 7:15 doors open, 7:45 The Dunedin Youth Jazz Orchestra, 8:30 Hanover Hall All Stars.