Adam’s Apple

Wayne Shorter (tenor sax), Herbie Hancock (piano), Reggie Workman (bass) and Joe Chambers (drums). From the album Adam’s Apple (1967).

This album belongs to the post-bop category. “Footprints” became a jazz standard and “Chief Crazy Horse” is a tribute to John Coltrane. From the first moment Shorter’s saxophone sounds on the first track, with its warmth and power, it’s inevitable that you like this album. It’s one of the great works of jazz of the mid-1960s, but when Shorter has reached his peak of skill, has achieved a unique rendition style, compositional mastery and a perfect rapport with his peers, it’s difficult to be impressed when he shines this way one album after another.

It’s a great work interpreted by exceptional musicians, and although it doesn’t contain really deep musical explorations, its listening provides hours of pleasure. It has a funky swing that guarantees your feet will dance. It’s one of those rare modal albums that being interesting for the experienced listener, can also be heard by a beginner.

After a brief introduction rendered by the rhythm section, Shorter exposes a pleasant theme at medium tempo and then begins a solo with well distributed and balanced phrases. As he goes along, he plays with greater energy and intensity. After that, Hancock enters with a solid two-handed improvisation, presenting the melody, but clearly marking the chords. Finally, the group re-exposes the theme and then Shorter continues playing on the last chord fading out.