Bowl is really Wayne’s world

Prime-time jazz arrived Wednesday night at the Hollywood Bowl in a celebration of saxophonist-composer Wayne Shorter’s life and music. The first program of the Bowl’s summer jazz series with no quasi-jazz distractions at last fully displayed the music’s breathtaking capacity for creative expression.

It did so in large measure because it showcased an artist whose imagination and inventiveness continue to expand, even as he approaches his 70th birthday.

Given Shorter’s history, one night could barely touch on his numerous accomplishments. So the program concentrated upon his more recent efforts.

In the first segment, his current quartet -- with pianist Danilo Perez, bassist John Patitucci and drummer Brian Blade -- spun its way through a brief medley of unidentified selections. But titles mattered less than the symbiotic flow of ideas from one player to the other. In that sense, the quartet recalled the similarly empathic interplay from the Miles Davis quintet of the 1960s, when Shorter was a primary member.

One of the concert’s numerous highlights followed -- a stunning impromptu duet from Shorter and his longtime friend and associate, Herbie Hancock. Next came an expansion of selections from his recent “Alegria” album, performed by the quartet with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, conducted by Nicole Paiement, including brilliant re-imaginings of “Orbits” and “Angola,” first recorded in the ‘60s by the Davis quintet.

Carlos Santana appeared briefly in a colorful rendering of “Novus.” And Savion Glover’s extraordinary tap-dancing improvisations nearly stole the show -- especially during an encore jam with the quartet.

The evening had a few problems, however.

In the audio mix, Shorter’s saxophone was consistently in front of the other instruments, a reflection, perhaps, of the fact that he was the star of the show. But the result, especially when Blade’s drums were rendered virtually inaudible, tended to undermine the subtleties of the quartet’s marvelously collective improvising. In addition, the musical menu would have been even more appetizing with the inclusion of at least one or two of Shorter’s better-known compositions.

But those are small carps for an otherwise immensely engaging encounter with a fascinating musical mind. Perhaps best of all, the program affirmed the fact that Shorter -- who has been ramping up his activities after a period of relative quiet -- is now fully back in action.