Wayne Shorter

Critics and fellow musicians regarded American saxophonist Shorter as an unparalleled composer and performer in jazz. Established in jazz circles since the 1950s, his final work could be described as the integration of jazz with contemporary classical music. His quartet produced highly improvised music that was meticulously organized, individualistic yet firmly guided by Shorter's vision as a composer. As a university professor, he was a major influence on young musicians in training. As an innovator, the Grammy-winning Shorter constantly awed and inspired his peers with work that has crossed boundaries and genres.