Saxophonist Wayne Shorter, who died two years ago, made history with his contributions playing in the groups of Miles Davis and Weather Report. However, this very influential jazz musician was also praised as a solo artist and composer, whose extraterrestrial sounds and melodies within his own material were equally phenomenal. Throughout his life, Shorter composed pieces for jazz ensembles with a symphony orchestra – even until just before his death – and wrote no fewer than 32 fully scored compositions for a large ensemble; most of which was never played in a live setting. During the festival, the Rotterdam Philharmonisch Orkest will play original works by the maestro, together with Shorter’s former band members, conducted by Clark Rundell. Rundell had a good connection with Shorter; he was also the conductor during his concert with the Prima La Musica Orchestra at North Sea Jazz in 2002. Several pieces by The Symphonic Music of Wayne Shorter will represent a first for Europe.
