1995 studio album by Wayne Shorter
High Life jazz saxophonist Wayne Shorter that was released on Verve Records in 1995.
This album won the Grammy Award in 1996 for Best Contemporary Jazz Performance .[ 4] Rachel Z , guitarist David Gilmore , bassist Marcus Miller , percussionists Lenny Castro and Airto and drummer Will Calhoun of Living Colour .
Overview
The album was the first album Wayne Shorter had recorded as a leader for seven years. It was also his recording debut for Verve Records . High Life was something of a departure from the jazz-fusion albums that Shorter had recorded in the late 1980s after leaving Weather Report . The compositions were generally seen[citation needed to be more complex than his previous efforts and the use of synthesized instruments was seen[citation needed to be more subtle.
Shorter wrote, composed, and arranged all of the compositions featured on it. A thirty-piece orchestral ensemble was used in addition to the electronic instruments. The album was produced by Marcus Miller , who also played electric bass and conducted the orchestra. Keyboardist Rachel Z contributed to the orchestration and the sound design of the album as well as played piano and synths. Besides soprano and tenor saxophone it is the first and only (recorded) occasion Shorter played alto and baritone saxophones.
The album was (mainly) recorded and mixed in Bill Schnee 's studio in North Hollywood , and released on October 17, 1995. High Life won the Best Contemporary Jazz Performance in 1996.[ 4]
Track listing
"Children of the Night" – 7:23
"At the Fair" – 7:29
"Maya" – 5:12
"On the Milky Way Express" – 5:35
"Pandora Awakened" – 6:20
"Virgo Rising" – 6:46
"High Life" – 6:28
"Midnight in Carlotta's Hair" – 5:54
"Black Swan (In Memory of Susan Portlynn Romeo)" – 2:04 All compositions by Wayne Shorter
Personnel
Orchestra
Wayne Shorter – orchestrations and arrangements
Marcus Miller – conductor
Suzie Katayama – contractor
Sarah Bonebrake, Stephen Cartotto, Jim Cowger, Michelle Dalton, Ronald Goldstein, Janice Hayen and Frank Macchia – music copyists Horns and Woodwinds
Gary Bovyer and Lorin Leeve – bass clarinet
Ronald Jannelli – bassoon
Emily Bernstein and Ralph Williams – clarinet
Julie Feves and Michele Grego – contrabassoon
Annarenee Grizell, Kazue McGregor and Sara Weisz – flute
Joyce Kelley-Clark – oboe
Linda Muggeridge and Leslie Reed – English horn
Daniel Kelley, Joe Meyer and Brad Warnaar – French horn
Steven Holtman and Robert Payne – trombone
Jon Lewis and Rob McGregor – trumpet Strings
Larry Corbett – cello
Robert Becker, Denyse Buffum, Ralph Fielding, Harry Shirinian and Evan Wilson – viola
Bruce Dukov, Armen Garabedian, Suzie Katayama, Edith Markman, Sid Page and Michele Richards – violin Production
Marcus Miller – producer
John Hendrickson – recording
Will Alexander – additional recording
Ray Blair – additional recording
Peter Doell – additional recording
Leslie Ann Jones – additional recordingBrian Schueble – additional recording
David Ward – additional recording, production assistant
Koji Egawa – assistant engineer
Steve Genewick – assistant engineer
Sean Schimmel – assistant engineer
Brian Young – assistant engineer
Bill Schnee – mixingDoug Sax – masteringBibi Green – production coordinator
Nate Herr – release coordinator
Rudi Mallasch – release coordination assistant
Erica Gebhardt – logistics coordinator
David Lau – art direction, design
Chris Cuffaro – photographyAna Maria Shorter – wardrobe
Lynne Bugai – stylist
M'Jai Jefferson – grooming
Trish Gossett – make-up
Roger Cramer – management Studios
Recorded and Mixed at Schnee Studios (Hollywood, California).
Additional recording at Capitol Studios (Hollywood, California); Pacifique Studios (North Hollywood, California); Milky Way Technics (Los Angeles, California).
Mastered at The Mastering Lab (Hollywood, California).
References
External links
