Israeli-born, Amsterdam-based guitarist-composer-educator Eran Har Even has digested Wayne Shorter’s evergreens and lesser-known gems for years in different formations. Now he presents his homage to the great master who passed away last year. Shorter Days, Har Even’s fifth album as a bandleader, offers his reimagination of eight of Shorter’s timeless masterpieces, arranged for a trio of fellow Israeli expat, double bass player Omer Govreen (who plays in another Israeli expat band, Ziv Taubenfeld’s Full Sun) and Dutch drummer Wouter Kühne. Har Even already covered Shorter’s “Lost” on his 20/21 album from 2022. The album was recorded live at the iconic art space De Roode Bioscoop in Amsterdam.
Har Even says that the process of rediscovering Shorter’s work inspired him to find a boundless sea of music and became a personal journey of gaining a deeper layer of consciousness through music and unearthing a deeper understanding of himself. He wanted this project to be about curious conversation, that would stretch the borders of melody, harmony, texture and form, and radiate a joyful sense of celebration and mysterious exploration.
Har Even’s fresh interpretations are by no means nostalgic but explore the wise and intricate compositional ideas of Shorter and adapt these compositions to the playful and powerful energy of his trio. Shorter’s compositions include classics like «One By One» and «El Toro», originally performed by Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers (Ugetsu, Riverside, 1963 and The Freedom Rider, Blue Note, 1964), «Night Dreamer» (from Night Dreamer, Blue Note, 1964), «Dance Cadaverous» (Speak No Evil, Blue Note, 1966), «Nefertiti», originally performed by Miles Davis second great quintet (Nefertiti, CBS, 1968), «Capricorn» (Super Nova, Blue Note, 1969), «Lost» and «The Big Push» (The Soothsayer, Blue Note, 1979). The trio is well-versed in Shorter’s legacy and its performance does justice to these gems, and the passionate interpretations of Har Even, Govreen and Kühne allow the beauty and elegance of these life-affirming compositions to shine.
Eyal Hareuveni
Eran Har Even (electric guitar), Omer Govreen (double bass), Wouter Kühne (drums)
