The title of “living legend” is never assigned lightly, but icon Wayne Shorter is certainly worthy of the highest praise within the Jazz community and beyond.

The JAZZ ROOM, Jazz Arts Initiative’s monthly performance series, seeks to do just that the weekend of February 17, 2018.

Known for his success within groups, like Art Blakey and his “Jazz Messengers” and Miles Davis’ “Second Great Quintet”, Wayne Shorter has carved his place into music history with his own group “Weather Report”, and his own solo recordings.

Wayne Shorter’s efforts have earned him 10 Grammy awards, the most recent being presented in 2014. Shorter is the latest recipient of the Polar Music Prize, a Swedish international award founded in 1989 that has been awarded to the likes of Paul McCartney, Dizzy Gillespie, and B.B. King.

The Stig Anderson Music Award Foundation, the presenters of the Polar, had the following to say about Wayne Shorter:

“Wayne Shorter has written a number of the most enduring compositions in the history of jazz. Without the musical explorations of Wayne Shorter, modern music would not have drilled so deep.”

Derek Douget, the featured artists in the Wayne Shorter JAZZ ROOM performances, couldn’t agree more.

“Wayne played with ‘older cats’ and that had to have influenced his writing and playing, and that is the same for me. Every performance of his tunes is like a history lesson,” said Douget.

A two-time graduate of the University of New Orleans, Douget plays regularly with the famed Ellis Marsalis Quintet, and has been featured on Grammy winning albums with the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra. His continued time with that group has sent him to communities far and wide in efforts to present Jazz to diverse audiences.

Douget is passionate about the role that Jazz plays in defining himself, and the country.

“The fact that Jazz exists and is America’s music is fascinating to me… It is like the motto for all tings American. It’s simply a miracle,” he said.

Douget says the performances, on February 16 and 17, will include several classic Wayne Shorter tunes, in conjunction with some tucked away gems. He also notes that he will deliver pieces on both soprano and tenor saxophone.

“Wayne doesn’t have the same ideas and voices for soprano sax as he does tenor, and I am going to try to do the same… I just hope that audience members will feel the music is heartfelt and real, and an honest interpretation of (Shorter’s) music,” Douget said.

These performances will wrap up the tenth season of The JAZZ ROOM.

Friday’s show times are 6:00 and 8:15 PM
Saturday’s show times are 7:00 and 9:15 PM

For tickets, visit carolinatix.org.