WAYNE SHORTER — Juju (review)

WAYNE SHORTER — Juju album cover Album · 1965 · Hard Bop Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
Sean Trane
An early Shorter solo album, and I believe the second one (of a long series) on the Blue Note label, Juju is also one of my fave, not least because of the outstanding contribution of Tyner and his usual-suspect Trane accomplice Elvin on the drums and Workman on bass. Ok, don’t think I’m jumping on my Trane train yet, because Shorter is the star, and his compositions are one of the best he’s ever done, and his stellar playing shines throughout the album’s six tracks, but inevitably the Trane shadow is lurking all over Juju.

What a pleasure it is to hear the Coltrane crew without Trane in the opening title, even if it’s almost impossible not to think of the master himself, mainly because of the instantly recognizable Tyner piano and a slight raga feel. Deluge is quieter pedestrian tempo that doesn’t match its predecessor in terms of adventure. The even slower House of Jade is somehow a bit of a bore, despite an excellent but slightly predictable end. On the flipside’s Mahjong, Elvin opens alone, but is soon joined by Tyner’s tense piano line and Shorter’s wailing sax to give the whole thing a slightly exotic-raga touch and turns out to be the album’s best moment. The following up-beat Yes Or No present a slight bop feel, but voids falling in the usual trap. The bluesy-bop closer 12 More Bars is not exactly a foot-stomper, but fits correctly the album’s overall tone.

The remaster reissue feature alternate takes (both shorter ;o))) of the title track and the Jade track, but it’s not like they are a major selling point. Compared with many of his subsequent releases such as Speak No Evil or Schizophrenia, this is a far more adventurous album, even if Wayne will work again with Tyner in Soothsayer, but not to the same affect. As for Juju, it’s a little sad that the tracks following the lead-of song on each side of the album don’t really pick up where they left off. Good early album, getting my personal nod, probably because of the Trane-gang connection.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Jazz Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

JMA TOP 5 Jazz ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
A Love Supreme Post Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
Kind of Blue Cool Jazz
MILES DAVIS
Buy this album from our partners
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady Progressive Big Band
CHARLES MINGUS
Buy this album from our partners
Blue Train Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
My Favorite Things Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners

New Jazz Artists

New Jazz Releases

LIVE WOUND RESPONSE [OUT​.​FEST 2013] Jazz Related Improv/Composition
RHODRI DAVIES
Buy this album from MMA partners
Dominic Lash, Josh Sinton, Alex Ward Jazz Related Improv/Composition
DOMINIC LASH
Buy this album from MMA partners
Dominic Lash, Pat Thomas : Elements and Properties Jazz Related Improv/Composition
DOMINIC LASH
Buy this album from MMA partners
El Camino Sigiloso Jazz Related Improv/Composition
PAULA SHOCRÓN
Buy this album from MMA partners
Lucky All Along Post-Fusion Contemporary
LISA HILTON
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

Chicago - Hard to Say I'm Sorry / Get Away [Live At 55]
CHICAGO
snobb· 18 hours ago
John Coltrane's iconic Parker Blues: "Freight Trane" w/ Tobias Meinhart, Rick Rosato & Jesse Simpson
TOBIAS MEINHART
js· 19 hours ago
Yo Viné Para Echar Candela
SPANISH HARLEM ORCHESTRA
snobb· 23 hours ago
Joe Armon-Jones - Sorrow (feat. Liam Bailey) (Official Audio)
JOE ARMON-JONES
snobb· 1 day ago
Ambrose Akinmusire - muffled screams
AMBROSE AKINMUSIRE
snobb· 1 day ago
More videos

New JMA Jazz Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Jazz News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed