The Soothsayer is the seventh album by Wayne Shorter, recorded in 1965, but not released on Blue Note until 1979.Wayne Shorter discography accessed August 3, 2011. The album features five originals by Shorter and an arrangement of Jean Sibelius' "Valse Triste". The featured musicians are trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, alto saxophonist James Spaulding, pianist McCoy Tyner, bassist Ron Carter and drummer Tony Williams.
Critical reception
Reviewing a 1990 reissue, the Chicago Tribune noted that "the result is hard-driving and as edgy as the time at which it was made." The AllMusic review by Stacia Proefrock stated that "it ranks with the best of his works from this incredibly fertile period".Proefrock, S. AllMusic Review accessed August 3, 2011.
Track listing Original release (1979) All compositions by Wayne Shorter except where noted. A1. "Lost" – 7:12 A2. "Angola" – 4:48 A3. "The Big Push" – 8:18 B1. "The Soothsayer" – 9:35 B2. "Lady Day" – 5:31 B3. "Valse Triste" (Jean Sibelius) – 7:37
Bonus track on CD reissue (1990) 7. "Angola" [alternate take] – 7:35
Personnel Wayne Shorter – tenor saxophone Freddie Hubbard – trumpet James Spaulding – alto saxophone McCoy Tyner – piano Ron Carter – bass Tony Williams – drums
References