Straight confession: I know enough about jazz to be dangerous. Of course, I know the big names and a little more, but I would hardly consider myself an amateur. Oh, I know what I like, and I bet the fact that I like jazz probably means I know more than your average bear. I love Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Charles Mingus, and on a more contemporary note, I find Kamasi Washington's music mind-altering. That said, while I may not be entirely a stranger in a strange land, I am certainly a tourist, even if I have been relatively well traveled.
That's not to say he wasn't familiar with the music of saxophonist Wayne Shorter. His tenure with Miles Davis between 1964 and 1970 is legendary, and his melodious playing had much to do with what is known as Miles' "second great quintet" (Shorter had the unenviable task of following John Coltrane ). But, as you could say, this shit has levels, and the three-part docu-series Wayne Shorter: Zero Gravity is on a whole other level. It's not just that the series is a remarkably well put together piece, filled with facts, interviews, photos and historical data, but it goes beyond that. Zero Gravity is not so much a movie or a series, but an experience, much like Brett Morgen's wonderful David Bowie movie, Moonage Daydream.
Stars: Sonny Rollins, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock
To watch Zero Gravity is to go far beyond the boilerplate description of biographical documentaries that do all the "this happened and then that happened" kind of thing. And sure, there's plenty of this and that, but it's the presentation that counts. Director Dorsay Alavi (so far unknown to me, but now I'll never forget) uses animation and effects to give the viewer an idea of what it's like to think about art, or more specifically, jazz. Often, as Wayne Shorter himself speaks, his thoughts are laced with images that range from illuminating to mind-boggling. This is first-rate filmmaking on a subject that would have been compelling if the series had been told conventionally, but Alavi doesn't settle for conventionality. He wants to go beyond the basic details of the life of a musical genius and help you get a taste of what it's like to live inside the mind of that genius.
Don't get me wrong, if you watch Zero Gravity (and if it's not obvious to you by now, I certainly think you should), you'll learn the important details of Shorter's extraordinary life. How the supernaturally talented trumpeter started with the great Art Blakey, moved on to Miles, then started the legendary Weather Report, before going on largely alone and following his own muse for the rest of his life.
Each of the series' three segments are referred to as "portals," which seems appropriate for episodes that truly feel like the opening of unknown doors, behind which lie uncommon delights. Portal One covers Shorter's early years and details his unique ability to imitate the phrasing of any saxophonist, from Parker to Dizzy Gillespie, as he developed his own melodic yet progressively experimental style. At first, Shorter comes across as a true backing musician for Blakey, but when he leaves to join Miles's band, he really begins to blossom. As the quintet's primary songwriter, Shorter is revealed to be just as good as Coltrane, but in some ways, more prolific. The music he and Miles made together was truly innovative, and as the first portal closes, it becomes clear that Shorter must let Miles go his own way, something Davis himself encourages.
The series isn't just music (although almost every second of the film is matched by Shorter's tremendously masterful work), Alavi makes sure to include details of Shorter's personal life. And while the life of a musician who spends so much time traveling that his marriage fails may seem typical of the life of any traveling artist, Alavi gets to the heart of the pain of personal failure without lingering in a way that seems intrusive or distracting from the audience. main goal of the series, which is to present the full visionary nature of Shorter's career. The humanity displayed throughout the three episodes helps you understand how a man can suffer so much but never lose track of his vocation.
Watch Wayne Shorter: Zero Gravity 2023 Tv Series Trailer
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