Eran Har Even 'Shorter Days'

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I'm working through a backlog of some great albums released in 2024 and one of my favourites comes from guitarist Eran Har Even. He takes eight compositions by sax player, composer and bandleader Wayne Shorter, who sadly died in March 03. The result is Shorter Days.



Wayne Shorter is most famous for his work with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, with Miles Davis and probably known to most for Weather Report. His work on soprano (and tenor) saxophone is legendary, as are many of his compositions and Eran takes a selection of them and arranges them for his own trio. Joined by Omer Govreen (bass) and Wouter Kuhne (drums), the result is a stunning album that brings a 21st century feel to some beautiful classic tracks.

Shorter is one of those sax players who was consistently brilliant (since his DownBeat magazine win as New Star Saxophonist in 1962) and Evan echoes that brilliance in his own style, with his dynamic trio.

One of my favourites from Shorter Days is Evan's take on The Big Push from Shorter's Blue Note album The Soothsayer. Starting and ending wistfully and lyrically, its frenetic centre is both spirited and hypnotic. If you're a newcomer to Evan's (or Shorter's) work, I'd start with this one. But enjoy this album as one musician's insightful and inspirational interpretation of another's work.

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