Soothsayer (Rudy Van Gelder Series, Incl. 1 Bonus Track) (1965)

"Part of an explosion of solo albums Wayne Shorter recorded just after he joined Miles Davis' band, "The Soothsayer" wasn't released until the late '70s. Listening to the album, it is hard to believe because it ranks with the best of his works from this incredibly fertile period. Shorter has been called Davis' 'idea man' and the creativity and thoughtfulness that earned him that moniker are quite evident here. The album's five originals and one arrangement (of Sibelius' Valse Triste) show a multi-layered complexity that seems effortless even as it weaves together contributions from a very strong, stylistic sextet. Of particular interest is the interplay of the three horn players, including altoist James Spaulding and trumpeter Freddie Hubbard. As a performer, Shorter also shows a lot of strength, with fluid, at times subtly evocative, solos that bloom with energy without ever seeming frantic or harsh." (Stacia Proefrock, Allmusic)