Recorded on March 4, 1965, at Van Gelder Studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, 'The Soothsayer' is a Wayne Shorter album for Blue Note Records. The session features James Spaulding on alto sax, McCoy Tyner on piano, Herbie Hancock on piano (on some tracks), Cecil McBee on bass, and Joe Chambers on drums.
The album was originally slated for release in 1965 but was not issued until 1979, when Blue Note released it as part of its series of previously unissued material. Production was handled by Alfred Lion, co-founder of the label.
The music on 'The Soothsayer' reflects Shorter's transition from hard bop toward a more modal and experimental style, characteristic of his work with Miles Davis during that period. Original compositions include 'The Soothsayer', 'Angola', and 'Lady Day'.