Album Notes

Very few jazz composers in the latter part of the 20th century created a body of work that could be considered jazz standards, as a continuation of the jazz standards repertoire begun by composers like Ellington, Gershwin, Porter and others from that era, leading up to the 1960's through individuals like Bud Powell, Thelonius Monk, John Coltrane and Horace Sliver, among others. But Wayne Shorter and herbie Hancock (especially Wayne) accomplished that feat. Most likely, not a moment goes by on any given day when one of these men's pieces is not being played somewhere by somebody.

So in thanks to these two inspired musicians who helped, in their own unique and respective ways to further the jazz repertoire and guide jazz music into the 21st century, I express my appreciation through my own interpretations of a few of their many compositions.

John Mackay