Welcome to another new edition of our bi-weekly record-diving sampling extravaganza!
Before we get into our artist in focus, and in case you aren’t already aware, there are a few Mission Breifs/Challenges currently taking place that you may also fancy spending some time on here:
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@BLKrbbt’s Drum n’ Bass Battle #3 (Cinematic Noir Edition) Deadline March 5th
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@Doug is hosting “Hip-Hop Beat Battle #19 Loosely rock themed”
For this week’s sample track, we’ll be focusing on a recently departed musical icon, fusion jazz pioneer, Wayne Shorter. The track “Genesis,” comes from the album “The All Seeing Eye,” which is the ninth jazz album by saxophonist Wayne Shorter. The album was recorded on October 15, 1965, and released on the Blue Note label as BLP 4219 and BST 84219 in 1966. There is not enough space in this thread to detail the extraordinary life this individual led during his time on this planet, but here is some light wiki-info about the album, and his career, respectively:
In the album’s original liner notes, Shorter explains that the album was conceived as an attempt to depict the meaning of life, existence and the nature of God and the universe. In the long interview with Nat Hentoff, the saxophonist mentions the meanings of each piece, which will be hereby shortly summarized: “The All Seeing Eye” depicts the ubiquitous eye of God; “the solos, moreover, depict the machinery involved in the process of creation”. “Genesis” obviously refers to the creation of all things; if the first part mostly consists in free tempo phrases, it “goes into 4/4 straight time to indicate that everything is beginning to settle down”. Shorter further explains that he tried to give “Genesis” an open-endedness feeling “because, once begun, the creative process keeps going”. “Chaos” reflects “wars, disagreements and the difficulty men have in understanding each other”, whilst “Face of the Deep”, a ballad in a minor key – the more cohesive piece of the album -, mirrors God bethinking on His creation. Shorter meant the composition as hopeful. The closing piece, “Mephistopheles”, is a composition by Wayne’s older brother Alan, and it emphasizes the ominous presence of evil; Wayne notes: “At the end, that loud, high climax can be taken as a scream. If you consort with the Devil, and are fooled by his unpredictability, that scream is a measure of the price you pay […] and you are consigned to an eternity of torture, fire and brimstone”.
Wayne Shorter (August 25, 1933 – March 2, 2023) was an American jazz saxophonist and composer.[1] Shorter came to prominence in the late 1950s as a member of, and eventually primary composer for, Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers. In the 1960s, he joined Miles Davis’s Second Great Quintet, and then co-founded the jazz fusion band Weather Report. He recorded more than 20 albums as a bandleader.
Many Shorter compositions have become jazz standards, and his music has earned worldwide recognition, critical praise, and commendation. Shorter won 12 Grammy Awards.[2] He was acclaimed for his mastery of the soprano saxophone since switching his focus from the tenor in the late 1960s and beginning an extended reign in 1970 as DownBeat ‘s annual poll-winner on that instrument, winning the critics’ poll for 10 consecutive years and the readers’ for 18.[3] The New York Times music critic Ben Ratliff described Shorter in 2008 as “probably jazz’s greatest living small-group composer and a contender for greatest living improviser”.[4] In 2017, he was awarded the Polar Music Prize.[5]
Personal note
The chosen song for this week took a lot of going back and forth because Shorter’s death was not an expected outcome for the world this week, and I can’t imagine what the Shorter family is going through at this time. Moreover, not only was he personally responsible for numerous sample-worthy tracks, but Shorter was part of a group that also have numerous sample-worthy tracks, and he is also featured on numerous other legendary musicians’ sample-worthy tracks. The choice was difficult in such a short time frame with the amount of options available, and his work is worthy of several sample revisits!
Although it isn’t ever in my wishes to find a fellow naut experiencing tough circumstances in life, I can say with great confidence that if one finds themselves in search of solace through musical aid then they can rest assuredly among the many soul elixirs in the catalog of Wayne Shorter.
Here is (the new 24bit flac) link to the track, please delete it after using:
Wayne Shorter - Genesis
Here is (the op flac) link to the track, please delete it after using:
Wayne Shorter - Genesis
Here is the full album in 24bit .flac from archive.org:
Wayne Shorter - The All Seeing Eye
Album Photos:
(note: pictures taken from google search)
THE BRIEF
YOU have been selected by the notorious Global Sound Syndicate for a top-secret operation. Not really, please, share with your friends, family, and even The Hamburgalar’s sticky-fingered heist crew.
Mission:
-Sample any part(s) of the track we’ve nominated
-Spend no more than 1 week turning it into music
-Post your creations here for us all to enjoy
Deadline: Sunday , March 12, 2023
Submit your entry no later than 11:59 PM, Sunday, March 12, 2023, or be faced with a brief moment of self-loathing for not participating. Submissions entered on later dates are also welcome!
Compensation:
Hearts and compliments from the community
(not guaranteed)
You can use as much or as little of the sample track as you like, you just have to use it. No winners, no losers, just good times!
Every two weeks we will post a track from our record collections, ideally something you’ve not heard before. Jams, full tracks, noodles - share whatever you like!