Who do you choose to perform for one of the greatest jazz musicians who ever lived? For the organisers of the 2017 Polar Music Prize in Stockholm, it was easy: a 32-year old saxophone prodigy from Norway. The video of his rendition of Beauty and the Beast shows how right they got it!
When Wayne Shorter accepted the 2017 Polar Music Prize in Stockholm, he did so as one of the few musicians whose career spanned the hard-bop era of the 1950s to the present day.
The ceremony was not just a trophy moment but a gathering of the past, present and future of jazz. His introduction was managed by Esperanza Spalding and, in a neat symbolic gesture, organisers chose to invite an even younger talent onto the stage: Norwegian saxophonist Marius Neset.
His performance one of Shorter’s compositions — Beauty and The Beast – signalled yet another a passing of the baton, whether intentional or not.
In that spirit, the ceremony offered more than a formal award-presentation; it was a moment of mentorship and affirmation.
Here’s the full clip of Marius’ performance.
Whilst a long-time resident of Copenhagen, Neset was born in 1985 in Os, Hordaland, Norway. Known for his bold, modern saxophone voice and ambitious compositions, his presence at the event wasn’t incidental: it positioned him as both a tribute performer and a bearer of Shorter’s exploratory legacy.
Beauty and The Beast
When Neset took the stage to perform Shorter’s “Beauty and the Beast,” he did so before his hero and an audience of global jazz luminaries.
“Beauty and the Beast” is a flowing, samba-infused composition from Shorter’s 1974 album Native Dancer, his celebrated collaboration with Brazilian singer Milton Nascimento.
He performed it countless times around the world, including here during the 1986 North Sea Jazz Festival in The Netherlands.
Marius’ selection felt like more than just a performance: it looked like a symbolic hand-off from one generation to the next.
For Shorter (whose career included stints with Miles Davis, the Jazz Messengers, and Weather Report) this moment underlined a long-standing connection to innovation and mentorship.
The performance by Neset communicated that Shorter’s vision did not end with him: those lessons about melody, rhythm, structure and fearless curiosity live on in younger hands.
Marius Neset: A Portrait
Marius Neset may hail from Scandinavia, but his sonic approach is international and dynamic. His albums like Golden Xplosion (2011) and Birds (2013) revealed a saxophonist unafraid of texture, speed or the interplay of tradition and invention.
His follow-ups on celebrated German label ACT have confirmed his status as one of Europe’s greats.
That background made him a fitting choice to interpret Shorter’s work — not simply as a recipient of jazz history but as an active participant in its future.
More than a formality
Award ceremonies often feel like formalities, but the 2017 Polar event achieved something more interesting.
It honoured the past while committing to what comes next, offering audiences a vivid snapshot of continuity. Here, Shorter in his eighties was still being celebrated — and simultaneously spotlighting someone fifty years younger.
A Legacy That Moves Forward
When you revisit video or images from the ceremony, you see Shorter smiling, seated among guests, and Neset delivering with clarity and intensity. The juxtaposition is striking: one era’s master and the next era’s promise. The saxophone might pass between generations, but the mission stays the same.
Shorter once described his music as “drilling for wisdom.” Neset, standing on that Stockholm stage, seemed ready to continue the drilling. Not simply imitating the past — but building something new upon it.
Looking for more?
You can stay up to date with all the latest awards news via the official Polar Music Prize website.
Or dig into our guide to the most essential Wayne Shorter albums here.