JuJu (Wayne Shorter album)
Encyclopedia
JuJu is an album by Wayne Shorter
, recorded and released on Blue Note
in 1964, issued as BLP 4182 and BST 84182.
The album shows the strong influence of John Coltrane
, with whom Shorter had studied as an undergraduate, and whose style is reflected here both in performance and composition. On "JuJu", Shorter's timbre is rather astringent, and his phrases are long and volatile; neither quality is typical of his later work. "Yes or No" is reminiscent harmonically of Coltrane's "Moment's Notice" from Blue Train
; and "House of Jade", like later Shorter ballads (including "Infant Eyes" from Speak No Evil
) is similar in melody and structure to "Naima". The personnel also reflects Coltrane's influence, consisting essentially of a version of the latter's classic quartet, with McCoy Tyner
on piano, Elvin Jones
on drums, and Reggie Workman
on bass (who is mixed very low on this album). The same rhythm section backed Coltrane on the 1961 album Africa/Brass, the title track of which anticipates the title track of this album. By Shorter's next album, Speak No Evil
, recorded later in 1964, the leader's phrases became briefer, softer, and more rounded, under the influence of Sonny Rollins
and Miles Davis
, his employer at the time, and Tyner was replaced by Shorter's Davis bandmate, Herbie Hancock
.
Interestingly, the original liner notes for JuJu (by Nat Hentoff
) made no mention of Coltrane, nor of Shorter's apprenticeship with him; Bob Blumenthal, author of the liner notes for the new Rudy Van Gelder
edition of the album, speculates that this was a deliberate omission.
Several of the compositions on JuJu feature a 4 to 16 bar A section in which the band vamps on one or two chords, followed by a B section consisting of more complex changes. (In the case of "House of Jade", the opposite is true.) This enabled Shorter to use only one or two scales on each piece, thereby obtaining the modal
flavour of John Coltrane's contemporary work without sacrificing the customary harmonic complexity of his writing. For example, the distinctive harmonic flavor of the composition "JuJu" stems from the heavy use of a B augmented chord and Shorter's exploration of the related whole-tone scale. "Mahjong" features a memorable, tuneful solo by Shorter, in which he navigates through the changes primarily by means of a simple, F minor pentatonic scale
.
Wayne Shorter
Wayne Shorter is an American jazz saxophonist and composer.He is generally acknowledged to be jazz's greatest living composer, and many of his compositions have become standards...
, recorded and released on Blue Note
Blue Note Records
Blue Note Records is a jazz record label, established in 1939 by Alfred Lion and Max Margulis. Francis Wolff became involved shortly afterwards. It derives its name from the characteristic "blue notes" of jazz and the blues. At the end of the 1950s, and in the early 1960s, Blue Note headquarters...
in 1964, issued as BLP 4182 and BST 84182.
The album shows the strong influence of John Coltrane
John Coltrane
John William Coltrane was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Working in the bebop and hard bop idioms early in his career, Coltrane helped pioneer the use of modes in jazz and later was at the forefront of free jazz...
, with whom Shorter had studied as an undergraduate, and whose style is reflected here both in performance and composition. On "JuJu", Shorter's timbre is rather astringent, and his phrases are long and volatile; neither quality is typical of his later work. "Yes or No" is reminiscent harmonically of Coltrane's "Moment's Notice" from Blue Train
Blue Train (album)
Blue Train is a hard bop jazz album by John Coltrane, released in 1957 on Blue Note Records, catalogue BLP 1577. Recorded at the Van Gelder Studio in Hackensack, New Jersey, it is Coltrane's second solo album, the only one he recorded for Blue Note as a leader, and the only one he conceived...
; and "House of Jade", like later Shorter ballads (including "Infant Eyes" from Speak No Evil
Speak No Evil
Speak No Evil was one of several albums Shorter recorded for Blue Note in 1964. At the same time, he was also active in Miles Davis's band, and so it is unlikely that Speak No Evil received any special attention at the time of its release. But the passage of time has led to the album being...
) is similar in melody and structure to "Naima". The personnel also reflects Coltrane's influence, consisting essentially of a version of the latter's classic quartet, with McCoy Tyner
McCoy Tyner
McCoy Tyner is a jazz pianist from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, known for his work with the John Coltrane Quartet and a long solo career.-Early life:...
on piano, Elvin Jones
Elvin Jones
Elvin Ray Jones was a jazz drummer of the post-bop era. He showed interest in drums at a young age, watching the circus bands march by his family's home in Pontiac, Michigan....
on drums, and Reggie Workman
Reggie Workman
Reginald "Reggie" Workman is an American avant-garde jazz and hard bop double bassist, recognized for his work with both John Coltrane and Art Blakey....
on bass (who is mixed very low on this album). The same rhythm section backed Coltrane on the 1961 album Africa/Brass, the title track of which anticipates the title track of this album. By Shorter's next album, Speak No Evil
Speak No Evil
Speak No Evil was one of several albums Shorter recorded for Blue Note in 1964. At the same time, he was also active in Miles Davis's band, and so it is unlikely that Speak No Evil received any special attention at the time of its release. But the passage of time has led to the album being...
, recorded later in 1964, the leader's phrases became briefer, softer, and more rounded, under the influence of Sonny Rollins
Sonny Rollins
Theodore Walter "Sonny" Rollins is a Grammy-winning American jazz tenor saxophonist. Rollins is widely recognized as one of the most important and influential jazz musicians. A number of his compositions, including "St...
and Miles Davis
Miles Davis
Miles Dewey Davis III was an American jazz musician, trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. Widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Miles Davis was, with his musical groups, at the forefront of several major developments in jazz music, including bebop, cool jazz,...
, his employer at the time, and Tyner was replaced by Shorter's Davis bandmate, Herbie Hancock
Herbie Hancock
Herbert Jeffrey "Herbie" Hancock is an American pianist, bandleader and composer. As part of Miles Davis's "second great quintet," Hancock helped to redefine the role of a jazz rhythm section and was one of the primary architects of the "post-bop" sound...
.
Interestingly, the original liner notes for JuJu (by Nat Hentoff
Nat Hentoff
Nathan Irving "Nat" Hentoff is an American historian, novelist, jazz and country music critic, and syndicated columnist for United Media and writes regularly on jazz and country music for The Wall Street Journal....
) made no mention of Coltrane, nor of Shorter's apprenticeship with him; Bob Blumenthal, author of the liner notes for the new Rudy Van Gelder
Rudy Van Gelder
Rudy Van Gelder is an American recording engineer specializing in jazz.Often regarded as one of the most important recording engineers in music history, Van Gelder has recorded several thousand jazz sessions, including many widely recognized as classics, in a career spanning more than half a century...
edition of the album, speculates that this was a deliberate omission.
Several of the compositions on JuJu feature a 4 to 16 bar A section in which the band vamps on one or two chords, followed by a B section consisting of more complex changes. (In the case of "House of Jade", the opposite is true.) This enabled Shorter to use only one or two scales on each piece, thereby obtaining the modal
Modal
Modal may refer to:* Modal , a textile made from spun Beechwood cellulose fiber* Modal analysis, the study of the dynamic properties of structures under vibrational excitation...
flavour of John Coltrane's contemporary work without sacrificing the customary harmonic complexity of his writing. For example, the distinctive harmonic flavor of the composition "JuJu" stems from the heavy use of a B augmented chord and Shorter's exploration of the related whole-tone scale. "Mahjong" features a memorable, tuneful solo by Shorter, in which he navigates through the changes primarily by means of a simple, F minor pentatonic scale
Pentatonic scale
A pentatonic scale is a musical scale with five notes per octave in contrast to a heptatonic scale such as the major scale and minor scale...
.
Track listing
All pieces written by Shorter- "JuJu" –8:30
- "Deluge" –6:49
- "House of Jade" –6:49
- "MahjongMahjong (composition)"Mahjong" is a jazz standard composed by Wayne Shorter that first appears on his 1964 album JuJu. It is listed in the first volume of Hal Leonard's The Real Book and in the second volume of The New Real Book by Chuck Sher....
" –7:39 - "Yes or No" –6.34
- "Twelve More Bars to Go" –5:26
- Alternative takes on reissue:
- "JuJu" –7:48
- "House of Jade" –6:37
Personnel
- Wayne ShorterWayne ShorterWayne Shorter is an American jazz saxophonist and composer.He is generally acknowledged to be jazz's greatest living composer, and many of his compositions have become standards...
— tenor saxophoneTenor saxophoneThe tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor, with the alto, are the two most common types of saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B, and written as a transposing instrument in the treble... - McCoy TynerMcCoy TynerMcCoy Tyner is a jazz pianist from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, known for his work with the John Coltrane Quartet and a long solo career.-Early life:...
— pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal... - Reggie WorkmanReggie WorkmanReginald "Reggie" Workman is an American avant-garde jazz and hard bop double bassist, recognized for his work with both John Coltrane and Art Blakey....
— bassDouble bassThe double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2... - Elvin JonesElvin JonesElvin Ray Jones was a jazz drummer of the post-bop era. He showed interest in drums at a young age, watching the circus bands march by his family's home in Pontiac, Michigan....
— drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
External links
- JuJu (RVG edition) — Blue Note site