Woody Shaw - The Essential Woody Shaw / The Columbia Years '2018

Tracks list

Tracklist:

01. The Moontrane
02. Little Reds Fantasy (Live)
03. Rosewood
04. The Legend of the Cheops
05. Theme for Maxine
06. Stepping Stone (Live)
07. In a Capricornian Way (Live)
08. Seventh Avenue (Live)
09. Woody I: On the New Ark
10. Woody II: Other Paths
11. Woody III: New Offerings
12. Organ Grinder
13. Well Be Together Again
14. Isabel the Liberator
15. What Is This Thing Called Love?
16. Katerina Ballerina
17. The Moontrane (Live)


 Read MoreBy 1963, Shaws steady presence on the vibrant Newark jazz scene --
which included such future stars as keyboardist Larry Young and trombonist
Grachan Moncur III -- had begun to catch the attention of the greater jazz
world, and Shaw found work with Latin percussionist Willie Bobo as well as
progressive saxophonist Eric Dolphy. Dolphy even invited Shaw on a tour of
France. Sadly, however, Dolphy died from a diabetic coma before Shaw was able to
join him in Paris. Undeterred, Shaw left for France and ended up performing in
several European countries with a bevy of name artists including pianist Bud
Powell, drummer Kenny Clarke, saxophonist Johnny Griffin, and others. Shaw even
brought his Newark pals organist Young and drummer Billy Brooks overseas to
perform with him and saxophonist Nathan Davis.

The Cape Verdean BluesIn 1964, Shaw returned to the States and began a series of
highly formative jobs, beginning with a stint with pianist Horace Silver and
continuing with a whos who of jazz artists including pianist Chick Corea,
saxophonists Jackie McLean and Booker Ervin, pianists McCoy Tyner and Andrew
Hill, and drummer Max Roach. It was during this period that Shaw appeared on
several now classic recordings including Silvers Cape Verdean Blues (1965) and
The Jody Grind (1966), Larry Youngs landmark Blue Note date Unity (1965), and
some lesser-known but no less stellar releases like pianist Andrew Hills Grass
Roots (1968). The late 60s also found Shaw pairing with such forward-thinking
and avant-garde-leaning saxophonists as Gary Bartz, Pharoah Sanders, Hank
Mobley, and Archie Shepp.

Blackstone LegacyThe 1970s were a fruitful time both creatively and commercially
for Shaw, who formed several inspired working partnerships including stints with
saxophonist Joe Henderson, Art Blakeys Jazz Messengers, vibraphonist Bobby
Hutcherson, and drummer Louis Hayes. It was also during the 70s that Shaw first
recorded as a leader and released several influential, forward-thinking albums
featuring his by then highly individualized style that mixed harmonically
complex post-bop, modal jazz, and nods toward fusion and free jazz. Included in
this period are such albums as Blackstone Legacy (1970), Song of Songs (1972),
Moontrane (1974), Little Reds Fantasy (1976), and The Iron Men (1977).

RosewoodCapping off this decade of intense creative output, Shaw signed to
Columbia Records and released several more highly acclaimed albums with Rosewood
(1977), Woody III (1978) -- named after his son Woody Louis Armstrong Shaw III,
who was born that year -- For Sure! (1980), and United (1981). Of the four
releases, Rosewood achieved the most acclaim, earning a Grammy nomination and
getting voted Best Jazz Album of 1978 in the Down Beat Readers Poll -- the same
poll in which Shaw was picked as Best Jazz Trumpeter of the Year. Although Shaw
eventually parted ways with Columbia, he continued to work and record throughout
the 80s, releasing a handful of compelling albums, not the least of which
included his three sessions with fellow trumpet innovator Freddie Hubbard: Time
Speaks (1982), Double Take (1985), and Eternal Triangle (1988) -- most of which
are collected on The Complete Freddie Hubbard and Woody Shaw Sessions.

By this time, Shaw had been diagnosed with an incurable degenerative eye disease
and was losing his eyesight. While the disease did not hamper his performing
abilities, it would have obviously made the everyday functions of going about
ones life, let alone a music career, difficult. Although specifics of the
accident are somewhat vague, what is known is that on February 27, 1989, Shaw
was struck by a subway car in Brooklyn, NY, which severed his left arm.
Subsequently, Shaw suffered complications while in the hospital and died of
kidney failure on May 10, 1989.

Introducing Kenny GarrettAlthough the late 80s had proven to be the most
difficult period of Shaws musical life, with the rise of the Young Lions -- most
notably trumpeter Wynton Marsalis -- and the burgeoning renaissance of acoustic
post-bop jazz, the seeds were sown for a renewed appreciation of Shaws music.
Like Shaw, Marsalis was not only a classically trained musician, but had spent
time as a member of Blakeys Jazz Messengers and, like many of the younger jazz
musicians of the 80s, drew much inspiration from Shaws unique and harmonically
progressive approach to improvisation. Shaw recorded with several of these
younger musicians, including saxophonist Kenny Garrett on his stellar 1984 Criss
Cross debut, Introducing Kenny Garrett. Shaw also brought younger musicians into
his own group, including trombonist Steve Turre and pianist Mulgrew Miller, as
well as drummers Tony Reedus and Terri Lyne Carrington. In this way, Shaw
secured his reputation alongside such icons as Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Art
Blakey, and Horace Silver as one of the great jazz innovators, bandleaders, and
mentors. ~ Matt Collar

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