WEATHER REPORT — Heavy Weather (review)

WEATHER REPORT — Heavy Weather album cover Album · 1977 · Fusion Buy this album from MMA partners
4.5/5 ·
FunkFreak75
An album that brought world fame to an otherwise obscure and rather run-of-the-mill jazz-rock fusion band because of the radio-friendly mega hit, "Birdland." Though I never listened to this album as much as its companion, the previous year's, Black Market, I do like it.

Lineup / Musicians: - Joe Zawinul / Synthesizer [Oberheim Polyphonic, Arp 2600], Piano [Acoustic], Vocals, Melodica, Piano [Acoustic], Electric Piano [Rhodes], Guitar, Tabla - Wayne Shorter / Soprano and Tenor Saxophones, Composer (4, 6) - Jaco Pastorius / Bass, Mandocello (1, 7), Drums (3), Steel Drums (6), Vocals (1), Composer (3, 8) - Alejandro "Alex" Acuña / Drums, Congas and Tom Toms (5), Handclaps (7) - Manolo Badrena / Tambourine (1), Congas (3 5, 6), Vocals (4, 5), Timbales (5), Percussion (6, 7)

1. "Birdland" (5:57) iconic (though never a favorite of mine). (8.875/10)

2. "A Remark You Made" (6:51) beautiful melodies and performances but the song is so dang slow--and it just seems to drag more and more the longer it goes. Almost irritating! Still, that Zawinal synth solo toward the end is great. (13.33333/15)

3. "Teen Town" (2:51) a Jaco Pastorius showpiece, otherwise it's not much musically. (8.6667/10)

4. "Harlequin" (3:59) slow, melodic and memorable, this is one of my three favorite songs on the album and perhaps my favorite Weather Report song (that I've ever heard). (9/10)

5. "Rumba Mama" (2:11) is this where Pat Metheny got the idea to do this expanded percussion section jam so often? Weird that this is a live recording (Why couldn't they have done it in the studio.) (4.25/5)

6. "Palladium" (4:46) the second best song on the album with all band members in sync and hitting on all cylinders. I wish it were a little more melodic. (9.5/10)

7. "The Juggler" (5:03) another decent song: it's fairly slow and spacious with lots of individual subtleties woven together but the song never seems to get into full gear. Another top three song. (8.875/10)

8. "Havona" (6:01) another top three song: the most dynamic song on the album. Jaco and Alex's performances are sublime. This is jazz fusion! (9.5/10)

A-/five stars; a minor masterpiece of full-blown Jazz-Rock Fusion--one my Top 20 Favorites from the "Third Wave" of prog's "Classic Era."
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