The Complete Columbia Albums Collection (6-CD Box Set)

The best of Wayne Shorters electric era all in one bundle. The most complete package to date of Wayne Shorters Columbia albums, nearly 20 years of his greatest electric solo and co-leader performances of his own songs.

· Four great original albums plus two bonus discs

· Each individual album is packaged in a replica mini-LP sleeve reproducing that albums original cover art

· Includes the long unavailable albums: 'Atlantis,' 'Phantom Navigator,' and 'Joy Ryder'

· Two unique bonus discs featuring Wayne performing all of the compositions he wrote for the premiere jazz/fusion band Weather Report, 23 tunes, 90 minutes of music

· Plus his all-time best-selling solo album, 'Native Dancer,' with Brazilian superstar Milton Nascimento

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Enigmatic, often inscrutable, Wayne Shorter (born in 1933) doesnt give much of himself away to the public. Thankfully, hes given the world more than plenty in terms of beautiful music. A brilliant tenor and soprano saxophonist, an outstanding composer, and, at present, a bandleader of rare distinction, Shorter is finally basking in the adoration hes long deserved.

The journey started in Newark, New Jersey where Shorter began drawing attention to his musical prowess as a teenager. His five year stint, starting in 1959, with Art Blakeys Jazz Messengers alerted the jazz world to Shorters compelling voice on the tenor saxophone and his beguiling compositions. On joining Miles Davis in 1964, Shorter solidified what came to be called The Second Great Quintet, alongside the trumpeter, pianist Herbie Hancock, bassist Ron Carter and drummer Tony Williams. Shorters tunes Footprints, "E.S.P.", and "Nefertiti" among them and his alluringly elliptical playing were decisive elements in the critical success of the Davis band. Shorters own concurrently released albums as a leader have proved to be just as inspiring to subsequent generations of players as his work with Davis.

With Daviss initial fusion foray, In a Silent Way, Shorter turned to the soprano saxophone, instantly cementing a new and highly influential voice on the instrument. After participating on the epochal Bitches Brew, Shorter joined forces with Joe Zawinul, forming Weather Report. Increasing commercial success, particularly after the innovative bassist Jaco Pastorius joined, marked the fusion super groups notable fifteen-year run. Shorters own Native Dancer (1974), effectively introduced North American audiences to singer and composer Milton Nascimento.

With the dissolution of Weather Report in 1985, Shorter, the musician, was on his own for the first time. His albums Atlantis, Phantom Navigator and Joy Ryder found him delving deeper into extended composition while continuing to investigate electric fusion. Approaching his eighth decade, Shorter reverted to an acoustic setting once more, forming a highly lauded quartet noted for its risky improvisational ethos. Shorter remains what Hancock dubbed him: the master.

Albums Included:

CD 1 - New bonus disc: Weather Report Recordings of Wayne Shorter Compositions 1
CD 2 - New bonus disc: Weather Report Recordings of Wayne Shorter Compositions 2
CD 3 - Native Dancer (PC33418) 1974
CD 4 - Atlantis (FC40055) 1985
CD 5 - Phantom Navigator (C40373) 1986
CD 6 - Joy Ryder (FC44110) 1988

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Reviews:

"This set is an oddity in the Complete Columbia Albums series in that it goes beyond Wayne Shorter's solo albums for the label. In fact, it provides a service to his catalog that is virtually singular. Its first two discs are devoted to all of his compositions for Weather Report. Most of what is here from the WR years is revelatory in terms of Shorter's aesthetic, which differed -- often radically -- from Joe Zawinul's. Check "The Moors," "Eurydice," or "Non-Stop Home" from the early years, and "Swamp Cabbage" and "Face on the Barroom Floor" from the later ones; all are consistent, excellent examples of electric jazz. Of the four solo albums here -- Native Dancer, Atlantis, Phantom Navigator, and Joy Ryder -- it is the first, Native Dancer, a collaboration with Brazilian vocalist Milton Nascimento and pianist Herbie Hancock from 1974, that is the most satisfying.

While few would argue that his remaining solo recordings for Columbia -- all of which were cut after he left WR -- were somewhat disappointing for someone of his pedigree, the argument can be made that many of the compositions are in and of themselves lovely, but their faults lie -- at least in part -- with the production techniques of late '80s and '90s. Many of the performances, particularly on Atlantis, are indeed rewarding when reconsidered. Given the price tag, and unless one owns all of WR's recordings, this is a set with significant historic importance. If only Blue Note, a label where most of Shorter's seminal solo recordings were issued, would do the same thing."

Thom Jurek -All Music Guide

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"This is an absolute treat for Wayne fans. It's six CDs in total - you get two CDs featuring all his compositions from Weather Report's 15-year career, including highlights such as Lusitanos, Palladium, Harlequin, Three Clowns, Elegant People and the extraordinary Plaza Real. The other four CDs are Native Dancer, Atlantis, Phantom Navigator and Joy Ryder, Wayne's Columbia solo albums which spanned the '70s and '80s. These all come in separate CDs in their original packaging, and all have been remastered beautifully with lots of top end and none of that horrible bass overload that you get with a lot of remasters these days. Extra stuff is kept to a pleasing minimum - there's just a small booklet with full personnel and recording information (though all this appears on each separate CD too). There are no long essays or glowing tributes from ex-sidemen - the music does the talking.

And what incredible music it is. The three '80s solo albums are so far ahead of their time it's almost a joke. Though Wayne uses 'sweeteners' to hook the listener, such as bass vamps, drum machines and vocal-like melodies, these compositions seem to bypass the material and go out into the stratosphere.

A superb package befitting one of the giants of music."

Mattjoplin (June 19, 2013)
amazon.co.uk

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