Customer Reviews
Wonderful - By: Alan Calderwood, 12 Sep 2007 
I recently wrote a review of "Sweetnighter" which I consider a bona fide classic album. Reminded me to revisit this old favourite. And it is, simply, terrific. Although Wayne Shorter is still producing great music, this is easily my favourite album. The sheer "bite" or agressivenessin the playing & that kinda setting your teeth on edge tone that I love with some guitar work (e.g. "Zuma") are herein abundance. The quality of the playing & composition is, to my ears, superb. Great to hear a couple of alternative takes, which are well worth havingin their own right, though the preferred takes are probably better, & which give you an insight into how much was "written" & how much was improvised. They also show you the level of inventivenessin these musicians.
Just an observation... Wayne Shorter has become more "mellow" as he has aged,in contrast to the late, great Art Pepper who was the epitome of west coast cool when he was young (not to my taste), butin the late 70s/80s he came out of prison & was re-born - far more aggressivein his playing. Check out "The Blues for the Fisherman" album.
EDIT.. it seems thatin the last few albums Wayne Shorter has returned to the tenor saxin an acoustic setting & is displaying the old "fire"in his playing... maybe I spoke too soon of "mellowing"! Must check out these recent albums - ("Footprints Live", for example).
Shorter's best Quartet work - sublime writing and playing - By: M. I. R. Clarke, 13 Apr 2007 While the arrangementsin this collection aren't as complex as his quintet/sextet works, JuJu is a masterpiece of composition - wonderful tunes, expressive playing & mood shifts bepob, blues & ballad. I'm not an expert but the playing is marvellous throughout & i'd pick out McCoy Tyner for some exceptional performances (still can't decide whether i prefer Herbie Hancock as an accompanist). The tunes stickin your head long after the CD has finished & Shorter's improvisation round the themes is fresh & distinctive - don't let anyone tell you he's a Coltrane-copycat. There's not a bad track & it's even worth having the extra versions of JuJu & House of Jade (listen to that sax solo!), Mahjong has a lovely oriental feel & Twelve More Bars To Go is a classic. I find Adam's Apple & ETC less polished & only play Schizophrenia more often than this one. Buy, listen, enjoy.
A fascinating combination - By: , 17 Oct 2004 This is the disc that paired saxophone maestro Wayne Shorter with the classic John Coltrane rythmn team, albeit that Workman was an irregular member of that group. Whilst I must admit a preference to Shorter's "Speak no evil" where the more sympathetic Herbie Hancock takes the piano chair, this records affords us the opportunity to see how the combination of Tyner & Jones would effect the leader.
For my money, I much prefer Shorter to Coltrane , the former willing to explore the nooks & crannies of the harmonies of the compositions whereas Coltrane preferred to approach the music with a simplified modal harmonic cloak that provided the launchpad for his incredible lights of improvisation. On "Juju", it is interesting to note that Shorter sounds more like Coltrane than on any other recording although clearly he is streets aheadin the composition stakes as this record continues to demonstrate his ability to produce memorable & durable numbers. My favourite is "Deluge" although the stronger material on this offering is probably the more restrained material such as "House of Jad " & "Mahjong."
This is rightly considered a classic & any serious fan of Mr. Shorter will want to acquire this disc. However, his most recent Quartet with Danilo Perez has recorded an album features the title track & , if anything, proves that Wayne Shorter has gotten better with age. "Juju" is still a worthwhile investment if you don't already have this disc.
A Shiner from Shorter - By: Jimmy Sclaff, 30 May 2003 This exceedingly fine offering was recorded way backin 1967, although I have only come to it recently.
Saxophonist/composer Shorter is joined by Coltrane regulars McCoy Tyner, Elvin Jones & sometimes Coltranist Reggie Workman .
The hugely impressive opening JuJu features a haunting, theme over a highly propulsive rythm section. Tyner’s solo leads into a fantastic, hypnotic, passionate long wail from the leader.
Deluge too is another strong piece with more controlled passion from Shorters sax.House Of Jade is a ballad from a lovely theme from Mrs Shorter apparently. It again features some restrained, beautiful playing from Shorter. The delightful Mahjong could have been a Coltrane tune. Whereas Coltranes playing is searching ever outwards, Shorters seems to be more introspective, I feel. This song is just full of hearfelt musings.
The more up-tempo Yes Or No keeps this wonderful album on the rails. the early Yes part feels confident & bright, but the middle No section sounds more doubtful, ambigious & a jot fretful before it returns to Yes.
Twelve More Bars To Go is meant to be a slightly intoxicated look at a 12 bar blues. Slightly staggering backwards sometimes, instead of forwards. These guys pull it off. The album is filled out by alternate takes of Juju & House Of Jade.
I really love this album. Give it a spin & see for yourselves.
blue note classic!! - By: Rajesh[ tokrishrajesh@yahoo.com], 06 Dec 2001 Wayne Shorter's second Blue Note album marked the start of a creative dream run for him.In retrospect, his '60s solo recordings for Blue Note proved to be hugely influential for the subsequent jazz generation.This was coupled with the fact that he was writing equally challenging compositions for the Miles Davis quintet.This body of work represents an artiste, truly at the peak of his powers.
Getting back to 'JuJu',Shorter assembled the same cast which had powered it's predecessor 'Night Dreamer'.Pianist McCoy Tyner & drummer Elvin Jones were John Coltrane's soul mates, & comparisons were bound to crop up between Shorter & Coltrane.But this is were 'JuJu' proves to be a watermark for the artiste, for on this he was able to carve out a stylistically original sound for himself.
It is pretty evident on the opening cut,'JuJu',the song swings unlike anything else that was being produced at that point.A variety of influences creep into this record, including a oriental tinge to 'Mahjong' & a strong undercurrent of future mentor Miles Davis on 'Deluge'.'Yes or No'relentlessly grooves & so does the closer'Twelve More Bars To Go', a classic blues work out.
'JuJu' is a classic which has mangaged to remain quite unique sounding even after so many decades.By the time Shorter followed it up with another masterwork 'Speak No Evil',he hadspawned a legion of imitators.
