This post is by Dan
Recorded March 7, 9, and 17, 1981
Woody Shaw was born Christmas eve 1944, dying from kidney failure before his 45th birthday in 1989. His most productive years as a band leader were in the 1970s and 1980s. It was his group that featured Dexter Gordon on the celebrated Homecoming album recorded at the Village Vanguard in December 1976. Shaw's contributions to that album deserve praise equal to Dexter's. Homecoming and his numerous albums on the Muse label earned Shaw a Columbia contract that led to several more excellent albums, most notably Rosewood, Stepping Stones, and United.
United brings together a group of musicians who are now regarded as luminaries in the history of jazz, not just the 1980s. Shaw's frequent partner on trombone, Steve Turre, is here along with two appearances by Gary Bartz on alto. The great rhythm section is anchored by Mulgrew Miller. This was indeed a great band playing great tunes. We plan to feature them on two more albums from the 1980s in this blog.
The title track, "United," is a Wayne Shorter tune that has been covered by many artists. Shaw and Miller offer terrific solos that demonstrate how fertile this classic is for improvisation. "The Greene Street Caper" is Shaw's clever variation on "Green Dolphin Street." Shaw states the melody on muted trumpet, as if to echo Miles Davis' version of the song. Miller's piano solo reveals how great an artist he was without being considered a major stylist. The pianist's "Pressing the Issue" is a modal construction that supports wonderful solos from all. Shaw's memorable waltz, "Katrina Ballerina," also appears on the album.
United portrays an artist in his prime playing jazz standards, Broadway ("What Is This Thing Called Love?"), and original tunes with a superb band. Best of all, nobody coasts, not even on the most familiar material and the obligatory blues. What's not to like?
The young boy pictured on the album cover is Woody Shaw III, who grew up to contribute liner notes to a recently released live performance of his father's band (The New Woody Shaw Quintet Vol. 1 at Onkel Po's Carnegie Hall, Jazzline 2017). That recording comes very close to beating out United as my favorite Woody Shaw album of the 1980s. There are also many other posthumously issued live albums by Woody Shaw available on HighNote and Elemental Music.
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