Super Nova is an important transitional album for tenor saxophonist
Wayne Shorter. Doubling on soprano (which he had recently begun playing),
Shorter interprets five of his originals (including "Water Babies," which had been recorded previously by
Miles Davis) and
Antonio Carlos Jobim's "Dindi." He definitely used a forward-looking group of sidemen, because his "backup band" includes guitarists
John McLaughlin and
Sonny Sharrock,
Walter Booker (normally a bassist) on classical guitar for "Dindi," bassist
Miroslav Vitous, both
Jack DeJohnette and
Chick Corea (!) on drums, and percussionist
Airto;
Maria Booker takes a vocal on the touching version of "Dindi." The influence of
Miles Davis' early fusion period is felt throughout the music, but there is nothing derivative about the often-surprising results. As with
Wayne Shorter's best albums, this set rewards repeated listenings. ~ Scott Yanow