Great Jazz Albums (IMO) #16

Wayner Shorter, Speak No Evil (1965).  Wayne Shorter is one of the "most important American jazz musicians of his generation [and] is generally acknowledged to be jazz's greatest living composer."  From 1964-1970, after a great stint with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, he played in Miles Davis' second great quintet and wrote some of his most noteworthy compositions for the band.  During his time with Miles, Wayne Shorter also recorded some of his own albums, including the fabulous Speak No Evil.  The all star group for this hard bop album consists of Shorter on sax, Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, Herbie Hancock on piano, Ron Carter on bass and Elvin Jones on drums. Murray Horowitz, for NPR,  describes Speak No Evil as "moody," "atmospheric," and "original," while keeping its "classic jazz flavor."  As he says, "it swings, and it's filled with the blues, wonderful improvisations and terrific ensemble playing."  Horowitz concludes, and I agree, that this is "a classic and truly basic addition" to an essential jazz library.
[Related posts:  Really Great Jazz Albums,  #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11, #12, #13, #14, #15]