This alternate take of "House of Jade" from Wayne Shorter's 1964 JuJu sessions presents a second exploration of the ballad's 24-bar ABA form in C minor, with Shorter's two-chorus tenor solo and Tyner's brief piano statement both charting different courses than the issued master take. At 68 BPM, the tempo matches the original almost exactly, but the improvisational content is entirely fresh, demonstrating the limitless possibilities inherent in a well-crafted composition. Shorter's ballad playing on this version is equally lyrical but tonally distinct, with different melodic choices revealing alternative emotional dimensions of the piece. Tyner's one-third chorus of piano, taken at a slightly faster 74 BPM, suggests a subtle acceleration in the performance's final section. The availability of both takes allows listeners to appreciate the depth of Shorter's compositional thinking: his forms are strong enough to support radically different improvisational approaches while maintaining their essential character. Blue Note Records' practice of preserving alternate takes has proven invaluable for documenting the creative process of jazz's greatest artists, and these JuJu alternates are particularly illuminating given the quality of the musicians involved.
