anybody else fans of Weather Report?


This jazz fusion "supergroup" kept going for more than 15 years, and practically definined the state of the electric jazz throughout its run. Unlike most 'Fusion" groups of the era, Weather Report kept the emphasis on jazz improvisation, merged with electric grooves and ethnic polyrhytms. Weather Report also anticipated the U.S. interest in "world music". The group was originally founded by bassist Miroslav Vitous,and former Miles Davis sidemen Wayne Shorter(saxophones), Joe Zawinul,(keyboards), and Airto Moreira (percussion), with Alphonse Mouzon (drums). And although only co-leaders Zawinul and Shorter remained throughout the groups lifespan, like many of jazz's great long-lived groups, Weather Report proved to be a springboard for several future leaders who passed in and out of the band in a series of revolving-door personnel changes. Alumni include Jaco Pastorius, Narada Michael Walden, Alphonso Johnson, Leon "Ndugu" Chancelor, Peter Erskine, Mino Cinelu, and Alex Acuna...

Weather Report began as a sort of extension of Miles Davis's "In a Silent Way/Bitches Brew " period, with the collective improvisation combining elements of jazz, rock, funk, Latin and other ethnic musics. With the release of Sweetnighter in 1972 and Tale Spinnin' in 1973, Zawinul's influence upon the band's direction expanded; the groove became more important, and more structures were introduced, though the improvisational interplay remained intact.


When the innovative bassist Jaco Pastorius replaced Alphonso Johnson in 1976( who left to join the George Duke/ Billy Cobham Band with John Scofield), Weather Report entered its most popular period, and Jaco became the flamboyant third lead voice. The best-selling Heavy Weather album (1977) served up a hit tune, "Birdland", which became a jazz standard (and also a later hit for the Manhattan Transfer), and with the entrance of Peter Erskine on drums (1978), the group finally had a stable lineup until the early eighties. Jaco,who had taken electric bass playing to new heights, left in 1982 to concentrate on his solo career, but it was probably just as well -- by then, his onstage antics, his eventual descent into drugs and alcohol, and his increasingly erratic behavior were beginning to cause problems within the group.


Despite Jaco's popularity, his departure (and later Erskine's) actually led to a rebirth and recharging of the groups batteries; their replacements Victor Bailey (bass), Omar Hakim (drums), Jose Rossy and later, Mino Cinelu (percussion) were perfect for Zawinul's expanding Third World rhythms and textures. This version of the group released three more albums, including the outstanding Procession. But Shorter was getting restless; his role in the group had begun to recede into the background, and This Is This (1985), (on which Carlos Santana guests) was to be the group's final release. Shorter energetically resumed his solo career, and Zawinul began a revamped version called Weather Update, which, with Scott Henderson and Gerald Veasley, eventually became the Zawinul Syndicate...
[Edited 9/12/04 13:30pm]

JACO

Classic band presented in classic paligap fashion.

2

tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...rmusic.htm

theAudience said:

Thanks! Actually, your comment about Steps Ahead's sound being influenced by WR prompted this!
[Edited 9/12/04 18:30pm]

Black Market is brilliant.I really want that live album called "8:15".I haven't had any luck finding it yet.

rockwilder said:

Not sure about 8:15 but you can get 8:30 here:Weather Report

Due to CD capacity restrictions, you'll lose the tune Scarlet Woman.

tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...rmusic.htm

theAudience said:

LOL!!Thanks!

Maybe one of the greatest bands ever assembled

Supernova said:

Here you go.



Now imagine him playing him playing Donna Lee.

tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...rmusic.htm

Most definitely a lover of WR's music.
I purchased Jaco's Modern Jazz Bass on DVD about a month ago. It was cool watching him play Continuum, Portrait of Tracy and checking out his technique overall. Definitely an inspiration for me.

Love & Light,

Quietsoul

quietsoul said:

Great video! what I really love about it is that, in Jaco's discussions with Jerry Jemott, he doesn't present this just for pros and veterans--he explains techniques and concepts in a way that even a beginner or a non-player can understand...

Anyone remember 'Return to forever' ?, with Al di meola, (guitar), and Stanley Clarke(bass) , George Duke(?)Should've researched a bit better ,working from memory. At a point there , People from one Jazz rock band where playing on one anothers albums and crossing back and forward, great times in American Music.

Which reminds me , i gotta get my turntable out of the cupboard and spin some vinyl

FLUX said:

Oh yeah! Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, Al Di Meola and Lenny White!

OOPS ! getting off the track of your thread
Which just reminds me seeing Chick Corea playing with "The foo fighters", at MTV awards last year! ( i think? just happened to come on as i was letting a video of stuff i've recorded run as i was browsing here)
* Wierd combo, but nice to see he's still around!

The relationship to Weather Report is, well guy's such as George Duke, Played with, Frank Zappa, (Let us remember ' the Man ' ); Stanley Clarke, Chick Corea in Santana, yeh, alot of interchanges. Almost like a basketball team, (sorry,dumb joke)

yep, as always: good choice paligap!

I do not know all of their work.. by far... but hey.... it's a lot! though as an Austrian I know I should, since Zawinul is our biggest Jazz "export"