An explorer of sound

John Coltrane jammed with a young tenor saxophonist named Wayne Shorter while the latter was still a college undergrad in the 1950s. Instead of imitating his mentor’s avant-garde noise, Shorter pursued a skeletal, highly melodic and funk-anticipating hard bop all his own. As Miles Davis’ sideman, Shorter wrote dense and fluid original compositions (including “E.S.P.,” “Nefertiti” and “Prince of Darkness”) that became some of Davis’ most definitive cuts. Though his output during the ‘80s and ‘90s was plagued by inconsistency, Shorter’s creative drought seems to be over. He’s recently pursued classical arrangements, and he brings his orchestral takes on Bach, Villa-Lobos and his own inimitable originals to Disney Hall.

Wayne Shorter, Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., L.A. 8 p.m. Saturday. $28 to $87. (323) 850-2000.