Like the shape-shifting music he made throughout his life, Wayne Shorter was always pushing forward, always seeking new aural adventures and challenges. His death Thursday in Los Angeles at the age of 89 marks the passing of a tireless innovator whose fans ranged from countless jazz artists to such admirers as Carlos Santana, his periodic collaborator, and Red Hot Chili Peppers' bassist Flea.
In a career that stretched across more than six decades, Shorter established himself as a singular tenor and soprano saxophonist, brilliant composer, fearless improviser and first-rate band leader.
His work as a solo artist and as the co-founder of the hugely influential band Weather Report — like his tenures in the famed bands of Miles Davis and Art Blakey — defined him as a true original. So did his collaborations with such diverse artists as Joni Mitchell, the Rolling Stones and Brazilian singing great Milton Nasciemento.
