89-year-old jazz saxophonist Wayne Shorter passes away.

Wayne Shorter, a legendary jazz saxophonist and a prominent figure on the jazz scene in the late 1950s, has passed away at the age of 89 in Los Angeles. Shorter is renowned for his contribution to shaping the music of 20th century jazz.

The 12-time Grammy award winner played alongside several jazz greats including Miles Davis, Carlos Santana and Herbie Hancock.

Shorter began his career playing with the Jazz Messengers in the 1950s, where he eventually became the group’s musical director, playing alongside jazz luminaries like Blakey, Lee Morgan and Freddie Hubbard. However, in 1964 he joined Miles Davis’ First Great Quintet after several attempts by Davis to bring him onboard. It was during this period that he played alongside the pianist Herbie Hancock.

Shorter also released solo albums from as early as 1959, including the critically acclaimed Speak No Evil, Night Dreamer and JuJu. His solo work allowed him greater creative freedom, enabling him to fuse jazz with rock and Latin music, creating the distinctive sounds heard in his next musical group, Weather Report.

In 1977, Shorter’s album Heavy Weather, which added funk and R&B grooves, went platinum and reached the US top 30 charts. He also collaborated with the Rolling Stones on their album Brides to Babylon the same year.

Shorter later reunited with Davis, Hubbard and Hancock in the Second Great Quartet in the late 1970s, recording the Grammy-winning album A Tribute to Miles following Davis’ death.

Born in Newark, New Jersey in 1933, Shorter initially played the clarinet before switching to tenor and soprano saxophones. He studied music at university before spending two years in the US Army.

Shorter won a dozen Grammy awards during his illustrious career, including a Lifetime Achievement award in 2015. His passing has sparked an outpouring of tributes on social media, with many paying homage to his enduring musical legacy.