by Ken Laster

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In September of 2018 Wayne Shorter released an epic 3 CD set of music with his long-standing adventurous quartet of Shorter on tenor and soprano saxophones, Danilo Perez on piano, John Pattitucci bass and Brian Blade drums. This release is so much more than a record album. It is a multi-media experience, colorfully packaged in a quality hard case bound book of over 80 pages. It has a forward written by Esperanza Spaulding and a 74 page graphic novel written by Shorter and Monica Sly, masterfully illustrated by Randy DuBurke (DC Comics). The music has an orchestral suite along side live recordings of the quartet.

As for the graphic novel, it tells the tale of a “rogue philosopher” moving among several worlds (or perhaps realities). In each of these worlds, the people are oppressed through politics, war, division and censorship. Emanon fights against this oppression in each world, and frees this “multi-verse” from oppression. At least that is my interpretation after several readings. You may take away something entirely different!

As for the music, CD 1 of the set is a suite written for the 32 piece Orpheus Chamber Orchestra along with the quartet. The second and third CDs are live recordings of the quartet in London. The music is not available as a digital download or on streaming services. It can only be purchased as part of this book & CD set, or a deluxe box set that contains both the CDs and vinyl records.

The orchestrated suite is fantastic. The compositions are Aaron Copeland-esque in their grandiosity. Pegasus begins with the quartet stating the theme and setting the pace. The orchestra comes in subtly and builds to a crescendo at which time the quartet re-enters adding its improvisation over the orchestration. This and the other pieces on CD 1 have an orgainic integration between the jazz ensemble and the orchestral arrangements.

CDs two and three are somewhat less groundbreaking and at times a bit floundering. The skill of this quartet, the empathy shown between players and the high level of improvisation are evident. After 15 plus years of playing together these artists can finish each other’s musical sentences. They have left behind the conventional jazz formula of stating a theme and trading solo’s for simply playing in the moment and expressing themselves individually or as a group. Occasionally they may quote a few familiar bars from Shorter’s past recordings.

At 85 years of age, Wayne Shorter continues to create his art, and explore new territories at a very high level. Even his playing seems to be revitalized. The last few times I have seen him perform, his playing was sparse, leaving the rhythm section to do most of the heavy lifting. On this set he is playing more fearlessly and driving this music forward. Emanon is an artistic work that I wholeheartedly would recommend to Wayne Shorter fans and those that have an appreciation for modern jazz. I feel that in years to come, Emanon will be considered a significant piece of history in the jazz idiom.