El Gaucho is a jazz instrumental tune written by Wayne Shorter. It was first recorded and released in 1966 on the Blue Note Records album Adam’s Apple. The original quartet on the track features Wayne Shorter on tenor sax, with Herbie Hancock on piano, Reggie Workman on bass, and Joe Chambers on drums. The piece is built from Shorter’s melodic theme and is known for its improvisational development sparked by the melody, with the solo noted for an extra two bars at one point. El Gaucho has become a notable part of Shorter’s catalog and has inspired many covers and interpretations by other artists over the years.
