Wayne Shorter: Zero Gravity, the intimate portrait of a jazz legend
Outstanding saxophonist and composer among the most influential of modern jazz, Wayne Shorter would have been 90 years old on August 25th. Over a career spanning over 60 years, he has explored and reinvented jazz with boundless creativity, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire and fascinate. This three-part documentary explores the life and work of the musician.
The Zero Gravity documentary, directed by Dorsay Alavi and produced by Brad Pitt, offers an intimate look at the saxophonist's life and career through interviews, testimonials from loved ones and musical icons such as Herbie Hancock, Carlos Santana, Joni Mitchell, Sonny Rollins, Marcus Miller and Esperanza Spalding. A longtime friend of the saxophonist, Dorsay Alavi had been working on this documentary for more than ten years. We owe her a captivating tribute to the life of a musical genius, his perseverance and his impact on the world music scene.
Structured in three parts, the documentary gives a comprehensive overview of the life of Wayne Shorter.
- The first part takes us to his childhood, his relationship with his mother, his first influences, his passion for the visual arts, comics and films... Then his musical beginnings, his consecration with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers and his integration into Miles Davis Quintet.
- Part Two delves deeper into the connections between Shorter's personal life and his music. Personal trials, including his struggle with his addictions and family challenges, are juxtaposed with a period of commercial success marked by his spiritual search through Buddhism.
- The third and final part offers us an immersion in his composition process, his collaborations, his world tours and even his moments of teaching young budding musicians. This last part illustrates his desire to redefine jazz and to use music as a vector for positive social change.
