High Life (album)

Infobox Album
Name = High Life
Type = studio
Artist = Wayne Shorter


Released = October 17, 1995
Recorded =
Genre = Modal jazz
Post-bop
Neo-bop
Length =
Label = Verve
Producer = Marcus Miller
Reviews = *amg|id=10:9qn8b5p4nsqg|rating|4|5
Last album = Joy Ryder
1988
This album = High Life
1995
Next album = Footprints Live!
2002

"High Life" is an album by jazz saxophonist Wayne Shorter, that was released on Verve Records in 1995.

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 1980's after leaving Weather Report. The compositions were generally seen to be more complex than his previous efforts and the use of synthesized instruments was seen to be more subtle.

The album was produced by Marcus Miller (who also played electric bass) and keyboardist Rachel Z contributed to the orchestration on the album. A thirty-piece orchestral ensemble was also used in addition to the electronic instruments. Shorter played alto, baritone, tenor, and soprano saxophones and wrote, composed, and arranged all of the compositions.

The album was released on October 17, 1995 and the final track (Black Swan) was dedicated to the memory of Susan Portlynn Romeo. "High Life" won the Grammy Award for best Contemporary Jazz Album in 1997.

Track listing

"All Compositions by Wayne Shorter"

#"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

Personnel

*Wayne Shorter - Alto, Baritone, Tenor, and Soprano Saxophones
*Rachel Z - Piano, Synthesizers, Sound Design, and Sequencing
*David Gilmore - Electric Guitar
*Marcus Miller - Bass Guitar, Bass Clarinet, Rhythm Programming
*Lenny Castro - Percussion
*Airto Moreira - Percussion
*Munyungo Jackson - Percussion on Midnight in Carlotta's Hair
*Kevin Ricard - Percussion on Midnight in Carlotta's Hair
*Will Calhoun - Drums
*Terri Lyne Carrington - Drums on Midnight in Carlotta's Hair
*David Ward - Additional Sound Design

External links

* [http://www.vervemusicgroup.com/product.aspx?ob=prd&src=list&pid=10407 Official Site from Verve Records.]