Continuing the Mission Children of the Light: A Tribute to Wayne Shorter
Kevin Le Gendre
“All stars” is a term that has gone more or less out of fashion these days in the world of jazz.Yet supergroups made up of players who are all high achievers, either as bandleaders or accompanists, or both, still exist. Children of the Light is a case in point: the trio comprises pianist Danilo Pérez, bassist John Patitucci, and, for tonight’s concert, drummer Terri Lyne Carrington, who takes over for Brian Blade. Each of these musicians has excelled in a wide variety of settings for well over three decades. Bringing together superlative players of course is no guarantee for artistic success. This may be the first time Pérez, Patitucci, and Carrington have appeared in this line-up, but they are by no means strangers and have developed chemistry in the past. Carrington has performed alongside Pérez and Patitucci in the Wayne Shorter quartet, arguably one of the greatest of small groups in contemporary jazz, so her relationship with her fellow “Children” is well established. “She was also part of my album Panamonk in 1996 and played with John many times,” Pérez points out. “There is a strong family and musical connection that goes back at least 24 years. The three of us also work together at the Berklee Global Jazz Institute.” Any group with this kind of shared history is bound to bring something extraordinary to the stage.Yet Children of the Light is an ensemble in which the strength of character and verve of each individual comes to the fore in a context that places great value on musical conversation and exchange. The question is not so much what the three virtuosi play then how they pool their collective resources—given the fact that there is no nominal leader. Carrington, Patitucci, and 11
