| Summary: | Wayne Shorters compositional style has helped to define many of the techniques in jazz writing since his career began in the late 1950s. In this thesis, I will explore a number of Shorters most innovative and historically important compositions and arrangements over the course of his career spanning from his time with Art Blakeys Jazz Messengers, Miles Davis, Weather Report, and his own groups. These pieces will be analyzed melodically and harmonically as well as their structurally and texturally. Throughout each musical era of jazz over which Shorters career extended, each piece will illustrate several significant qualities in his writing including unorthodox harmonic changes, melodies that incorporate scales more common in improvisation, and structural variation. The later pieces discuss the aural effects of his critically panned music as the introduction of electronic instruments into jazz music and its subsequent blending of elements from popular styles greatly impact the sound and form, but not necessarily the complexity of the music. Most importantly, by including discussions of Shorters life, philosophy of music, and his inspirations for a number of the works presented, we can begin to understand the compositional process of a musician who even in his own circles exudes an air of an eccentric genius. While the music studied presents only a microcosm of his total output, the analysis of the selected pieces combined with the musical interpretation of the composer will establish Shorters place in the pantheon of jazz composers.
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