Wayne Shorter Joins Kennedy Center Honorees

Jazz legend Wayne Shorter was hailed by the Kennedy Center for a six-decade career that included collaborations with everyone from Art Blakey and Miles Davis to Carlos Santana and Joni Mitchell.
In presenting Shorter’s honor, Jason Moran, the Kennedy Center’s artistic director for jazz, described his music in celestial terms. “His sound holds a special place in the galaxy,” Moran said. “I can safely say that somewhere in the galaxy right now, a band is playing one of his pieces.”

After Moran’s testimonial, Shorter’s music was performed by a jazz band that included Herbie Hancock, Shorter’s former bandmate and a previous Kennedy Center Honoree.