Wayne Shorter’s Native Dancer

This is hands down thee best album from Wayne Shorter of this era, and one of my favorites in my entire library. It features sensational Brazilian singer/songwriter Milton Nascimento, who contributes his songwriting and/or performing to half of the album. The album also includes compositions from Shorter like the beautiful “Ana Maria,” and Herbie Hancock’s “Joanna’s Theme.” It is a brilliant Brazilian-jazz-funk infused project that is the perfect example of how these type of fusions should be done — without over thinking it! I’m sure it was thought out conceptually, but honestly, this is just a bad-ass collection of tunes and artists. The album also features Airto Moreira, Roberto Silva, and others. The album opens with the now-classic “Ponta De Areia” (which was covered nicely by bassist Esperanza Spalding on her second release Esperanza.) It moves on with the funk-groove based “Beauty and the Beast” and includes lovely ballads from Shorter, Hancock and Nascimento, and also includes the gorgeous “Miracle of the Fishes” which is the prize of the album for me. A phenomenal, front-to-back masterpiece. HIGHLY recommend.