Blue Note rarely recorded groups of more than quintet dimensions, but this 1965 recording gives Shorter the luxury of a septet to present the most challenging and forceful music of his career. He uses the four-horn frontline to develop thick textures and dense, layered harmonies that build on his work with the Messengers as well as his own quartet and quintet dates. There's a gravity of purpose in this meeting of post-bop and avant-garde impulses, a creative intensity that would be missing from his later work. Along with Shorter's energized tenor, there are strong contributions from several Bue Note regulars of the period, including trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, altoist James Spaulding, and trombonist Grachan Moncur III. The rhythm section of pianist Herbie Hancock, bassist Ron Carter, and drummer Joe Chambers creates a churning, explosive backdrop. The most powerful track, though, isn't composed by Shorter. It's the concluding "Mephistopheles," written by Wayne's brother, Alan. A looming, menacing theme, it has darkly foreboding flugelhorn playing by Alan, a gifted avant-gardist who appeared on very few recordings in his brief public career. --Stuart Broomer