Wayne Shorter: Tom Thumb
Musicians:
Wayne Shorter (tenor sax), James Spaulding (alto sax), Curtis Fuller (trombone), Herbie Hancock (piano), Ron Carter (bass), Joe Chambers (drums).
Composed by Wayne Shorter
.Recorded: Englewood Cliffs, NJ, March 10, 1967
Rating: 87/100 (learn more)
Blue Note albums from the '60s abound in long-form variations on the blues, and Wayne Shorter’s loping, riff-based “Tom Thumb” is an offbeat extension of that tradition. Of course, Shorter and his bandmates are never content to merely deliver a funky dance track. While the melody is relatively straightforward, the improvisations are thrilling in their interplay and creativity. The leader’s tenor is guttural and penetrating from the outset of his solo, his stuttering phrases and melodic asides toying with but never wholly obliterating the bluesy essence of his statements. Hancock is, of course, totally captivating, delivering a dense yet infectiously rhythmic statement that is a perfect sendoff for the slithering, emotive cry of James Spaulding’s alto.
Reviewer: Matt Miller
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Related Links
In Conversation with Wayne Shorter by Bob BlumenthalThe Dozens: Twelve Essential Wayne Shorter Performances by Matt Miller
”Wayne Shorter” by Matt Miller (from The Encyclopedia of Jazz Musicians)
Tags: blue note
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