There’s no doubt about it that Wayne Shorter’s often quite lengthy solos stand as the apexes of this fine album recorded live in 2015 during the legend’s three-night residency at New York’s Jazz at Lincoln Center. Certainly the excellent musicians who fill the Orchestra and contribute to the arrangements of Shorter’s material selected from decades of his works as a leader and sideman are a strong element to the success of this collaboration. Yet, as is apparent from the audience’s reaction, the listeners in the room are holding their collaborative breaths in anticipation and appreciation of Shorter’s genius.

Even the spaces Shorter leaves between notes and his purposeful stuttering on the opening of the aptly-named “Contemplation,” recorded in 1963 with Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers, elicit laughter of delight from members of the band. Shorter’s breathy tenor embraces such humanistic qualities of warmth, sorrow and finally joy.

“Armageddon,” from the saxophonist’s 1964 album Night Dream explodes at the onset and then the always exploratory Shorter hard bops it, it could be said, like nobody else can. Strong backing by drummer Ali Jackson and pianist Dan Nimmer, who play exceptionally throughout, forward the motion.

The album exits on the earliest of the saxophonist’s selections, “Mama G,” that was first heard on pianist Wynton Kelly’s 1959 release Kelly Great. Shorter’s blowing makes it sound as if he wrote it yesterday rather than over 60 years ago. But then that’s the strength of The Music of Wayne Shorter. His compositions and tenor and soprano work continue to radiate creative freshness.