Wayne Shorter: Wild Flower

On this 6/4 masterpiece, Elvin Jones provides this stellar cast with a hard, swinging drumbeat. Also, this song represents Shorter at arguably the most creative stage in his career as he is joined by his former Jazz Messengers partner Freddie Hubbard. Combined with his Miles Davis mates in Hancock and Carter, this group should have recorded more, as they represent the strongest unit heard on record from this period, even eclipsing the groups of Coltrane, Davis, and Blakey. Hancock finishes the song off with his trademark use of chromatic lines mixed with diminished undertones, creating a hypnotic feeling before they break back into the head. A must for everyone who likes any of these musicians.