Ana Maria is a jazz tune composed by Wayne Shorter that first appeared on the 1975 album Native Dancer, released by Columbia. The original session features Shorter on tenor sax with Herbie Hancock on piano and Airto Moreira on percussion, joined by David Amaro on acoustic guitar and Dave McDaniel on bass, with Milton Nascimento often associated with the Native Dancer project. The piece blends post‑bop instincts with Brazilian textures and melodic ideas that mark Shorter’s adventurous style. It has inspired later interpretations, including Kenny Kirkland’s rendition and a notable chorus by Nicholas Payton on Adonis Rose’s The Unity. Contemporary educators like Davy Mooney have revisited Ana Maria in advanced improvisational concepts, highlighting its technical depth and expressive potential. Ana Maria stands as a central work from Shorter’s Native Dancer era and a bridge between jazz and Brazilian musical sensibilities.
