Recorded on the same day as the superior
Odyssey of Iska, this loose session (
Wayne Shorter's final one for the Blue Note label) is quite unusual. Although
Shorter sticks to his customary tenor and soprano, pianist
Chick Corea plays marimba, drums, and percussion; bassist
Ron Carter mostly performs on cello; electric guitarist
John McLaughlin sticks to the 12-string guitar, and bassist
Dave Holland also plays acoustic guitar, with drummer Michelin Prell rounding out the group. Not released until 1974, the music is influenced by early fusion and has its interesting moments although it often wanders. The group performs
Milton Nascimento's "Vera Cruz" and four of
Shorter's originals, of which "Montezuma" is the best-known. ~ Scott Yanow