Yesterday’s entry for “Today in Jazz History” was about a recording session engineered by Rudy Van Gelder on December 23, 1954. Today’s is about an album that was recorded in its entirety by Van Gelder exactly ten years and one day later on December 24, 1964. That record is Wayne Shorter’s “Speak No Evil.”

“Speak No Evil” was the sixth album by saxophonist Wayne Shorter. Although recorded in late 1964, Blue Note Records did not release it until June of 1966. The music combines elements of hard bop and modal jazz, and features Shorter on tenor saxophone, trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, Herbie Hancock at the piano, bassist Ron Carter and Elvin Jones on drums.

The album was one of several Shorter recorded for Blue Note in 1964, his first year as a member of Miles Davis’ quintet. The album is generally regarded as one of Shorter's finest, and also a highlight of the Blue Note catalogue. The Penguin Guide to Jazz selected this album as part of its suggested "Core Collection" calling it “by far Shorter's most satisfying record.”

There were six songs on the original record (subsequent re-releases have included bonus tracks). All six are Shorter compositions and include Witch Hunt, Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum, Dance Cadaverous, Infant Eyes and Wild Flower along with the title track. Author Ian Carr wrote that the record is “a classic album in terms of both composition and improvisation and has been inspirational for many musicians.”

Here is a link to the title track from the record:

"SPEAK NO EVIL"