Celebrate Wayne Shorter's birthday with him at Red Butte Garden

Jazz saxophonist Wayne Shorter turned 80 on Sunday, and a Who's Who of talent are touring with him to show their love.

The guest of honor shares the stage with Joe Lovano, the Dave Douglas Quintet and the star-studded trio of ACS: Geri Allen, Terri Lyne Carrington and Grammy-winner Esperanza Spalding.

Shorter closes the night with his dazzling quartet. Shorter, who was once Art Blakey's music director and sideman (replacing John Coltrane) for Miles Davis, pooh-poohed all the fuss.

"This [birthday] I'm being forced to enjoy," he said in a recent interview.

Shorter's 2013 album "Without a Net" is his first recording since 2005 and his first record with famed Blue Note Records in 43 years.

It is a live album, with new interpretations of his past work. It also includes new tunes with Danilo Perez on piano, drummer Brian Blade and bassist John Patitucci.

One of the album's highlights is the title song of the film "Flying Down to Rio," which was the first time Fred Astaire teamed up with Ginger Rogers. Shorter, a self-described film buff, picked the song because it is "a creative ballet."

That's the same phrase he used to describe his forward-thinking and innovative style of jazz.

When • Thursday, 7 p.m.Where • Red Butte Garden, 300 Wakara Way, Salt Lake CityTickets • $45 for garden members, $50 for general public, $35 for children 3-12, at redbuttegarden.org