52 Comments

This letter made me cry. I don't know how I never knew this letter existed. What a powerful manifesto from two titans with hearts and minds as large as the cosmos.

As a jazz bass player, voracious reader, and unpublished writer, your writing, Mr. Gioia, has always been an inspiration.

As a former student of John Patitucci, a member of Wayne Shorter’s last quartet, this loss is soul-crushing.

If I remember correctly, I was at the inaugural concert where this new Shorter Quartet first burst on the scene.

I still dream of that concert, me on the lawn watching mybteacchwr and bass hero along with the titan and master as well Brian Blade and Danilo Perez, making the most joyous sounds together, sounding like a symphony rather than a quartet.

I have such fond memories of stories from John Patitucci about playing with Wayne, about Wayne’s profound way of communicating, and his love for various forms of storytelling.

This is such a heavy loss. I haven't felt this sad about losing an artist since Prince, another hero of mine.

Thank you for hipping me to this letter. It is a clarion for all of humanity. I can't wait to read what you have to say about Wayne in the days to come.

Thank you, Mr. Gioia.

Be well and blessed,

pacomahone

Expand full comment

This is a quite an amazing open letter that you've shared. I'm just floored by the decency, the humanity expressed by the co-writers. Thank you.

Expand full comment

Ted - Saddened to see yet another great from the golden age of jazz pass from life. Thank you for sharing this uplifting view of our world and life sent as an inspiration from one icon of music, Wayne Shorter to another, Herbie Hancock. His words and thoughts advocating the taking a bold ownership of one's thoughts and actions to strive for peace and love in a broken world are commendable. We all need to live above ourselves in order to transcend the limitations which "so easily beset us". Kent H

Expand full comment

There is no greater goal than the pursuit of a better life for others. Thanks for sharing this Ted, looking forward to the follow-up tomorrow.

Expand full comment

Thank you for this. Texts from two of my nephews and this email popped up on my phone at almost the same time. I shared it with them because I did not have the words, and yours and his were ideal. (One summer when they were in college, I hired them to catalog our books, video and audio libraries. They actually remembered “Night Dreamer” and “JuJu.” They also became appreciative of vinyl.) After everyone goes to bed tonight, I shall turn on the turntable, turn off the lights, curl up on the couch with a finger or two of single malt and absorb a tiny part of the legacy from an old friend I never met.

Expand full comment

Just a rambling tribute. I had no guidance when I walked into a chain record store, Harmony House, in a suburb of Detroit. Probably 14 years old, I said to the young lady who asked if I needed help that I'd like to buy a jazz album. Duh. She said what instrument do you like? I said well I play piano concertos. She steered me to Keith Jarrett's "The Koln Concert" and I never looked back.

"Bitches Brew" was probably my next purchase. Don't know how or why, maybe the cool looking album cover. And then I started buying lots of stuff by everyone that played with Miles. The classic Blue Note sound, the legendary quintets . . .

But "Native Dancer" was one of the first. So different from the others. And eventually I owned probably fifty albums that Wayne Shorter played on either as a leader or sideman. Many purchased when Tower Records was clearing out their vinyl and selling them 3 for 10 bucks. I didn't need or want a CD player.

Saw Art Blakey dozens of times at Sweet Basils in the Village. I'd almost always go to Tower Records and buy one of his Jazz Messenger albums which he'd graciously autograph. Got Wayne Shorter to add his on a couple of them.

This is as big a loss in the jazz world as I can recall in some years. Of course much of that comes down to personal preference. I was preoccupied with passing anatomy in my first year of med school when Miles passed. And like I've been saying for a bunch of the rock and roll greats, these folks ain't getting any younger.

just verklempt, it's only just sinking in as my internet and TV were down this morning and I was dealing with that.

oh and check out Native Dancer for those unfamiliar, it's just a totally different sound than the classic Blue Note albums.

Expand full comment

Thank you for pointing out this letter.

I got to know Wayne when the band I managed in 1975 brought Weather Report over to my house after a concert they did here in Austin. I got to know them and spent time with them in Europe when I was concurrently there while they were touring. Wayne was a sweet hearted man and an interesting mix of eastern and western thought and likes. I feel he was blessed to have had his capabilities all the way to 89 and have been working with great musicians to the very end.

I loved he said he was just getting a new body and would be back. I look forward to hearing of some child prodigy in a few years and wondering if that is Wayne back for another round.

Expand full comment

I always enjoyed his interviews: not interested in dwelling on the past, very philosophical about jazz and music, especially the communal creativity aspect of it. I think it was on Christian McBride's show that he talked about how he loved movies and them being huge source of inspiration for his music.

Expand full comment

RIP my dear man. Thanks for the moments XxX

Expand full comment

I am so grateful for the legacy he has left to us.

Expand full comment

I am greatly saddened to hear this. While working as a college DJ in 1974 the album "Mysterious Traveller" by Weather Report was dropped into my lap by the program director who thought I had a taste for the bizarre and the inexplicable. I was hooked immediately and listened to the album several times through as I tried to figure out which cuts I wanted to play on my next show. It opened up a whole channel of music to me. One of the defining albums of an era of great music with things like Little Feat's "Dixie Chicken" and Steely Dan's "Pretzel Logic."

What I liked best about Shorter was, oddly enough, his ability to step back. Occasionally while seeing them live Shorter seemed to have a sense that what the other fellows were doing was pretty sharp and he had nothing to add. RIP Wayne, and thanks for that opening to "Teen Town."

Expand full comment

Whenever I get wrapped up in my own head this is good advice: “…LIVE IN A STATE OF CONSTANT WONDER” - see the world as a child with all its beauty and wonder.

Expand full comment

Makes me think of going to see jazz at Smalls in the Village

Expand full comment

His solo in "You go to my head," brought tears to my eyes.

Expand full comment

Thats sad. I absolutely love Wayne Shorter’s music. I still have much to discover.

Expand full comment

As one aspiring to be a part of one of those next artistic generations in literature, I deeply appreciate the words these cats have to share. Especially the parts about learning from the past and maintaining a sense of wonder. Thanks for sharing this! And RIP to Wayne Shorter.

Expand full comment