Want to know what’s missing in today’s jazz? Just pop in either of these two albums by trumpeter Woody Shaw. Where did we make a wrong turn?
Arguably the last in the line of “classic” trumpeters (Ok, I’ll give you Tom Harrell), Shaw (who’s career was tragically cut short back in 1989) put out a ton of important albums, even being on the major label Columbia for awhile.
For both concerts, he is with his classic rhythm section of Mulgrew Miller/p, Safford James/b and Tony Reedus/dr; for the 1981 gig in Tokyo he includes his famed trombonist Steve Turre. The quintet is a macho and formidable combo, as the horns are crisp and clear on the tricky and hip “Rosewood” while they take you on a glorious tour of moods on Shaw’s opus “Song of Songs.” The leader’s horn is agonizingly warm and passionate for “’Round Midnight” while James gets a chance to work out on ”Theme for Maxine” and Miller glistens on “Sweet Love of Mine.” Absolutely inspiring.
In quartet form for the 1983 concert in Bremen, Germany, Shaw is in a bit more of a modal mood, and therfore is able to have everyone stretch out a bit on the two discs, with almost every song clocking in at around 10+ minutes. The sparks fly on an amazingly lyrical and romantic mixture of melody and muscle on “You and the Night and the Music” and a sweet “Diane.” Reedus locks in like a horse during the Ben-Hur chariot races on “The Organ Grinder” and the stallions gallop on the exciting “Rahsaan’s Run, “ while “400 Years Ago” builds up into a wonderful avalanche. Shaw was one of the last horn players who could bring excitement and energy to a song without relying on gimmicks like sound effects or cacophonies. Everything is in the jazz tradition, and taken to its next logical level from the likes of Clifford Brown to Freddie Hubbard. Who dropped Shaw’s baton?