Wayne Shorter - Schizophrenia

Wayne Shorter was at the peak of his creative powers when he recorded Schizophrenia in the spring of 1967. Assembling a sextet that featured two of his Miles Davis band mates (pianist Herbie Hancock and bassist Ron Carter), trombonist Curtis Fuller, alto saxophonist/flautist James Spaulding and drummer Joe Chambers, Shorter found a band that was capable of conveying his musical "schizophrenia," which means that this is a band that can play straight up jazz just as well as they can stretch the limits of jazz. At their best, they do this simultaneously, as they do on the opening track "Tom Thumb." The beat and theme of the song are straightforward, but the musical interplay and solos take chances that result in unpredictable music. And "unpredictable" is the operative phrase for this set of edgy post-bop tunes. Shorter's compositions have strong themes, but they lead into uncharted territory, constantly challenging the musicians and the listener. Schizophrenia crackles with the excitement of Shorter and his colleagues trying to balance the two extremes.

Players Include:
Wayne Shorter - Saxophone, (Tenor)
James Spaulding - Flute, Sax (Alto), Sax (Soprano)
Curtis Fuller - Trombone
Herbie Hancock - Piano
Ron Carter - Bass
Joe Chambers - Drums Album Description

Never get bored of this album...

This is one of those albums I can listen to over and over again and each time hear something different. Shorter's brilliant playing and compositions aside, the band is incredible. Herbie's beautiful, open piano voicings (especially on "Go") are supportive and "perk up" the listener's ears. This album also features some of saxophonist/flautist James Spaulding's best work.

This is certainly one of my favorite periods of Wayne. July 10, 2008

Schizophrenia sounds fresh year after year....

The album sounds so fresh and flowing; it's hard to believe this album was recorded back in 1967. "Tom Thumb" is my favorite on this album, but I also love the 3/4 ballad "Miyako". The wide variety of sound textures and flavors that this album brings is excellent. Wayne Shorter's music has always been hard to classify(Avante-Guard and beyond would be a good start), so I just enjoy all of it! June 12, 2007

compares with current jazz quintets and sextets

except for kryptonite, all of the pieces were written by wayne shorter, amazing when you consider how generous he was to his group here. tom thumb begins with a drum/bass duo that maintains control the entire piece.
go has an asiatic flavor with flute and a strumming piano. schizophrenia, the title piece, is a concerto for drum. and miyako is another one of shorter's wonderful ballads. with all the great ballads he's written i don't know why other musicians don't play them.
this album leaps ahead of its time and here in the 21st century sounds as good as, no, sounds better than just about any jazz quintet and sextet playing these days. October 2, 2006

one of the pilars of modern jazz!

The Rudy van Gelder serie of Blue Note is well priced and of good quality. This serie gives good insight in the jazz scene of the late 50s an de the 60s. It's a good starting point to learn about this major jazz episode.

Wayne Shorter is one of the few major sax players. But it's the combination of playing and composing that makes him one of the greatest of all times. With 'Speak no evil' together with 'Adams apple' and 'Skizophrenia' you will get a perfect idea of Shorters early work and his huge talent. In my opion these albums are a must in understanding the evolution of jazz. And therefore a must in every jazzcollection!

'Speak no evil' is about composition. The five artists play in service of the compositions. It is about the carpet of sound and not the individual qualities. There's room for space and melodic poetry. This new approach is to be followed up for decades. It is the first solo album of Shorter without the coltraneband. This album puts him among Coltrane en Davis. This, ofcourse, was to be expected of the follower up of Coltrane in the Miles Davis Quintet.

The second album is Skizophrenia. The linernotes explanes the title as 'a retreat from reality'. Shorter finds new paths and that would make him a split-personnality in a time where people are used to stay on the same course. All the six players follow this new course and all find them selves more than capable. The music is soulfull and more important it is funky. Shorter playing is often compared with Coltrane, but on this album Shorter, in my opion, Shorter becomes one of the major players. His qualities shown here put him next to Coltrane, Rollins and Parker.

'Adam's apple' is the third great album of Wayne Shorter. With a lot of Miles Davis Quintet experience Shorter makes his best album. The compositions are (again) all beautifull, but it is the power in the playing that makes the album. It is full, sentimental, drama, spaceous and often surprising. And, mind you, this is only a quartet playing!

October 10, 2005

Wayne Shorter: once again worth your attention!

The last of (I think) eight Blue Note Shorter albums covering the 1964-67 era, and also the final purely acoustic set, not that it matters to me. Shorter uses altoist/flautist James Spaulding, trombonist Curtis Fuller, and familiar rhythm section mates Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, and Joe Chambers. The tunes yet again show forward movement, and though they probably aren't among the first tunes one associates with Wayne, they are effective vehicles for Shorter and his sidemen. The title cut lives up to its name while conversely allowing the group to build solid solos that defy the song's title. "Tom Thumb" is one of Shorter's all-time funkiest efforts (of course, he avoids the cliched blues phrases associated with much funk-jazz), and "Miyako" is the latest in a string of memorable Shorter ballads. As a whole, the album is arguably not an essential pick for fans of this era in jazz (and note that some other reviewers feel differently). Yet is still an important addition to Shorter's recorded works, with highlights that compare favorably to his all-time best efforts. January 30, 2005

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