Woody Shaw - The Complete Muse Sessions (2013) [7CD Box Set]

Included in the new collection are the mid- to late-1970s recordings saw him break through as an inspiring and influential musician and bandleader. Also included are the Muse sets from his return to the label from 1983 through 1987, where as a mature musician he displayed his range on the instrument and his appreciation for music of many jazz disciplines. The "Complete Muse" concept allows us also to present Woody's very first set from 1965 when he was just 20 years old. Originally recorded for Blue Note but returned to Woody by Alfred Lion when the record company founder experienced remorse over selling his label, it became a Muse set years later. Woody hit his prime when fusion was the rage and there was no cohesive jazz scene to support his career and recognize his innovations. A student of great bandleaders, Woody became one himself, and these sessions provide ample evidence of that from three different eras. The earliest session, from his tenure as a Blue Note stable player, includes Joe Henderson, Herbie Hancock, Paul Chambers and Joe Chambers. The 1970s sets include Steve Turre, Azar Lawrence, Onaje Allan Gumbs, Buster Williams, Victor Lewis, Cecil McBee, Rene McLean, Billy Harper, Joe Bonner, Frank Strozier, Ronnie Matthews, Stafford James, Eddie Moore, Frank Foster, Louis Hayes, Arthur Blythe, Anthony Braxton, and Muhal Richard Abrams, among others. In the 1980s, he played with Cedar Walton, Victor Jones, Kenny Garrett, Kenny Barron, and others. Nine individual Muse albums are represented on our seven-CD set. The collection includes many rare photographs from the time. The set was co-produced by Woody Shaw III, who has devoted his life to preserving the legacy of his father and that of his stepfather, Dexter Gordon. He also contributed the essay and track-by-track notes. As with all the Mosaic collections whose masters we license, it will be available only for a short time and then never again in this form.

Includes De Albums:

- The Moontrane (1974)
- Love Dance (1975)
- Live at the Berliner Jazztage (1976) (w/bonus track, “Sanyas”)
- Little Red’s Fantasy (1976)
- Iron Men (1977)
- Cassandranite (1965)
- Setting Standards (1985)
- Solid (1986)
- Imagination (1987)

Tracklist, Personnel & Dates:

CD1
01. The Moontrane
02. Are They Only Dreams
Personnel: Woody Shaw, tp; Steve Turre, tb; Azar Lawrence, ts, ss; Onaje Allan Gumbs, p;
Buster Williams, b; Victor Lewis, d. Blue Rock Studios, NYC, December 11, 1974
03. Tapscott’s Blues
04. Sanyas
05. Katrina Ballerina
06. Tapscott’s Blues (alt tk)
07. Katrina Ballerina (alt tk)
Personnel: Cecil McBee replaces Buster Williams, b; add Tony Waters, cgas; Guilherme Franco, perc.
Blue Rock Studios, NYC, December 18, 1974

CD 2
01. Love Dance
02. Obsequious
03. Sun Bath
04. Zoltan )
05. Soulfully I Love You (Black Spiritual Of Love)
Personnel: Woody Shaw, tp; Steve Turre, tb, bass tb; Rene McLean, as, ss; Billy Harper, ts;
Joe Bonner, p; Cecil McBee, b; Victor Lewis, d; Tony Waters, cgas; Guilherme Franco, perc.
Blue Rock Studios, NYC, November 1975


CD 3
01. Hello To The Wind
02. Obsequious
03. Sanyas
04. Jean Marie
05. Bilad As Sudan (Land Of The Blacks)
Personnel: Woody Shaw, tp, perc; Slide Hampton, tb, perc; Rene McLean, as, fl, perc;
Frank Foster, ts, perc; Ronnie Mathews, p; Stafford James, b; Louis Hayes, d.
Berlin Jazz Festival, November 6, 1976

CD 4
01. Cassandranite
02. Obsequious
Personnel: Woody Shaw, tp; Joe Henderson, ts; Larry Young, p; Ron Carter, b; Joe Chambers, d.
Van Gelder Studio, December 1965
03. Baloo, Baloo
04. Three Muses
05. Tetragon
Personnel: Woody Shaw, tp; Joe Henderson, ts; Herbie Hancock, p; Paul Chambers, b;
Joe Chambers, d. Van Gelder Studio, December 1965
06. Jean Marie
07. Sashianova
Personnel: Woody Shaw, tp; Frank Strozier, as; Ronnie Mathews, p; Stafford James, b
Eddie Moore, d. Blue Rock Studios, NYC, June 29, 1976.

CD 5
01. In Case You Haven’t Heard
02. Little Red’s Fantasy
03. Tomorrow’s Destiny
Personnel: Woody Shaw, tp; Frank Strozier, as; Ronnie Mathews, p; Stafford James, b
Eddie Moore, d. Blue Rock Studios, NYC, June 29, 1976
04. Iron Man
Personnel: Woody Shaw, tp; Arthur Blythe -1, Anthony Braxton -2, as; Muhal Richard Abrams, p;
Cecil McBee, b; Joe Chambers, d. Blue Rock Studios, NYC, April 6, 1977
05. Jitterbug Waltz
Personnel: Woody Shaw, cor-1, tp-2; Anthony Braxton, cl-1, ss-2, Arthur Blythe -2, as;
Muhal Richard Abrams, p; Cecil McBee, b; Victor Lewis, d. Blue Rock Studios, NYC, April 13, 1977
06. Symmetry
Personnel: Woody Shaw, tp; Arthur Blythe -1, Anthony Braxton -2, as; Muhal Richard Abrams, p;
Cecil McBee, b; Joe Chambers, d. Blue Rock Studios, NYC, April 6, 1977
07. Diversion One
08. Song Of Songs
09. Diversion Two
Personnel: Woody Shaw, cor-1, tp-2; Anthony Braxton, cl-1, ss-2, Arthur Blythe -2, as;
Muhal Richard Abrams, p; Cecil McBee, b; Victor Lewis, d. Blue Rock Studios, NYC, April 13, 1977

CD 6
01. There Is No Greater Love
02. All The Way
03. Spiderman Blues
04. The Touch Of Your Lips
05. What’s New
06. When Love Is New
Personnel: Woody Shaw, flgh -1, tp-2; Cedar Walton, p; Buster Williams, b; Victor Jones, d.
Van Gelder Studio, December 1, 1983
07. There Will Never Be Another You
08. You Stepped Out Of A Dream
09. Speak Low
10. Solid
Personnel: Woody Shaw, tp; Kenny Garrett -1, as; Peter Leitch -2, g; Kenny Barron, p;
Neil Swanson, b; Victor Jones, d. Van Gelder Studio, March 24, 1986

CD 7
01. It Might As Well Be Spring
02. The Woody Woodpecker Song
Personnel: Woody Shaw, tp; Kenny Garrett -1, as; Peter Leitch -2, g; Kenny Barron, p;
Neil Swanson, b; Victor Jones, d. Van Gelder Studio, March 24, 1986
03. If I Were A Bell
04. Imagination
05. Dat Dere
06. You And The Night And The Music
07. Stormy Weather
08. Steve’s Blues
Personnel: Woody Shaw, tp; Steve Turre, tb; Kirk Lightsey, p; Ray Drummond, b; Carl Allen, d.
Van Gelder Studio, June 24, 1987