Footprints Live! cover

Footprints Live!

Released

Wayne Shorter brought back a lot of his old repertoire on this 2002 effort, the recorded debut of the defining band of his later years, a quartet with pianist Danilo Pérez, bassist John Patitucci and drummer Brian Blade. But from the opening version of the Bitches Brew classic “Sanctuary,” it was clear that the saxophone legend was interested in these pieces not for their familiarity but for their ability to propel him and his band into the unknown. Soaring over the band’s turbulent churn on “Masqualero” or weaving in and out of its slippery pulse on “Footprints,” Shorter sounded more energized than he had in years.

Hank Shteamer

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