SHORTER STORIES Celebrates the music of master composer and saxophonist Wayne Shorter through new arrangements featuring a seven-piece lineup primarily comprised of members of the University of Northern Iowa School of Music faculty.
Christopher Merz (band leader, saxophone, principle arranger) originally conceived of the project after hosting composer/arranger John Beasley at UNI (Beasley’s project, the Monkestra, similarly tackles the music of Thelonious Monk). Other members include UNI professors Michael Conrad (piano, arranger), Anthony Williams (trombone), and Josh Hakanson (drums), along with guitarist Bob Dunn (UNI, retired), bassist David Altemeier (UNI alumnus) and trumpeter/arranger Jon Ailabouni (UW LaCrosse). Most are leaders in their own right, heading up ensembles such as the Mike Conrad Trio, the Jon Ailabouni Quintet, the Iowa Jazz Composers’ Orchestra (of which four are members), and Christopher’s Very Happy. Band.
Currently, the band’s repertoire focuses on the pre-Weather Report part of Shorter’s career, including compositions recorded by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers and Miles Davis’s second great quintet, as well Shorter’s first 8 albums on Blue Note. The arrangers explore alternate grooves, meters, harmonies and moods to reimagine these pieces to fit the band’s lineup and their own personal vision. Those familiar with the original recordings will find these re-imaginings familiar yet provocative, while those new to Mr. Shorter’s music will find plenty of variety in the arrangements and improvisations.
Shorter Stories began as a faculty recital project put together by Christopher Merz in October of 2022. The band has appeared at the Iowa City Jazz Festival, Noce Jazz Club in Des Moines, Polyrhythms Third Sunday series in Davenport, Opus Concert Café in Cedar Rapids, and the Octopus in Cedar Falls. Merz was awarded a South Arts Jazz Road Tours grant to take the band on tour in the summer of 2025, which took them to Washington, IA, Macomb, IL, St. Louis and Kansas City, MO, Lincoln, NE, and Des Moines, IA.
The band’s full-length debut cd, New Juju, is available as a download or streaming on Bandcamp, Tidal, Qobuz, Spotify, YouTube, and other digital outlets. Physical copies on compact disc are available from the band at live performances.