Wayne Shorter

This is the album where Wayne Shorter truly came into his own as a saxophonist and composer. While Shorter's harmonic ideas are endlessly creative, his melodic sense is rich enough to allow him to bridge the gap between the avant-garde and the (almost) mainstream. These traits make Miles Davis cohort Herbie Hancock the perfect pianist for Shorter and their partnership here is as rewarding as their work with Miles Davis. Speak No Evil showed an artistic path that diverged from Coltrane and Miles but more importantly it showcases music that hasn't aged a day since it was released in late 1964. Those who may be afraid of cutting-edge music should listen to the beautiful "Wild Flower."