In the 60s, as a sideman for Larry Young, Booker Ervin, Horace Silver, McCoy Tyner, Andrew Hill, Jackie McLean, etc., he was fantastic. But I want to appreciate his 70s (and even 80s) work today. I pulled 'Lotus Flower' (1982, Enja) for a buck the other day. I was actually surprised at how solid it was. I generally think the late 70s to early 80s was a bad time for somewhat straight ahead jazz. It was boring. But Mr. Shaw's records are exciting. He seemed to progress significantly throughout the 70s. (see below). If I wanted to get into more of his 80s work, what are some good titles?
Fatback
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I can't say I've ever found too much that I liked from him in the 80s. I agree that the late 70s and all of the 80s are a tough time to find that good straight forward jazz stuff. It's out there, but pretty few and far between.
Curious why he never lead even one BN date?
It must have been economic (with a bit of inside label politics). During the period that Spaulding and Shaw were working at Blue Note they seemed to have been trying to balance free, inside/outside and commercial soul jazz, and maybe neither of them pushed through at the right time. I know I love both of their styles.
I have nothing else to add except that I love Woody Shaw. A musician's musician.
Yes. Oh... and he had impeccable taste when it came to who he worked with over the years - Horace Silver, Joe Henderson and later on Mulgrew Miller and Kenny Garrett - class.
Tragic end though.