Wayne Shorter, Rest In Peace

This is a sad day. 

I have loved Wayne Shorter's music since I was 13 years old, when I first heard him with the Art Blakey band.

From AP:

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Wayne Shorter, an influential jazz innovator whose lyrical, complex jazz compositions and pioneering saxophone playing sounded through more than half a century of American music, has died. 

He was 89. Shorter died Thursday surrounded by his family in Los Angeles, said Alisse Kingsley, a representative for the multi-Grammy winner. No cause of death was given. 

“Visionary composer, saxophonist, visual artist, devout Buddhist, devoted husband, father and grandfather Wayne Shorter has embarked on a new journey as part of his extraordinary life — departing the earth as we know it in search of an abundance of new challenges and creative possibilities,” a statement released by Kingsley said. It called him a gentle spirit who was “always inquisitive and constantly exploring.” 

Shorter, a tenor saxophonist, made his debut in 1959 and would go on to be a foundational member of two of the most seminal jazz groups: 

Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers and the Miles Davis Quintet. 

Over the next eight decades, Shorter’s wide-spanning collaborations would include co-founding the ’70s fusion band Weather Report, some 10 album appearances with Joni Mitchell and further explorations with Carlos Santana and Steely Dan.

And this next one is probably the most famous Wayne Shorter solo:

His first major solo recording:

My favorite solo he ever did:

One of his most amazing tear-it-up, and shred it solos:

His most out there, and yet, elegant, ethereal, and eery composition:

And here he is with Miles Davis, in 1967: