WEATHER REPORT — Mysterious Traveller (review)

WEATHER REPORT — Mysterious Traveller album cover Album · 1974 · Fusion Buy this album from MMA partners
2.5/5 ·
Warthur
Although it's highly praised in fusion circles, I personally don't find Weather Report's Mysterious Traveller to be quite the classic it's made out to be. It isn't helped by the fact that it's a transitional album, in which founder member Miroslav Vitous bows out to make way for new bassist Alphonso Johnson, and in which the band begin to experiment with African-inspired rhythms. The most successful track is probably Nubian Sundance, which is genuinely exciting and engaging, but the rest of the album is extremely laid back and, at points, seems to back away from fusion entirely and edge towards more traditional jazz forms. The jazz lover in me wonders why the band can't just play straight jazz without adding unnecessary fusion frills to the pure-jazz tracks, whilst the fusion lover in me finds the album hard to focus on and directionless.
Share this review

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
Warthur wrote:
more than 2 years ago
I guess the wonderful thing about music is that two people can listen to the same album and come away with completely different impressions.
mittyjing wrote:
more than 2 years ago
i'm trying to figure if this reviewer knows anything about this album. they fail to mention scarlet woman and mysterious traveler as good tunes from this album. jungle book is no slouch either.

JMA TOP 5 Jazz ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
A Love Supreme Post Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
Kind of Blue Cool Jazz
MILES DAVIS
Buy this album from our partners
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady Progressive Big Band
CHARLES MINGUS
Buy this album from our partners
Blue Train Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
My Favorite Things Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners

New Jazz Artists

New Jazz Releases

6 Eclectic Fusion
KROKOFANT
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

Alicante
RENAUD GARCIA-FONS
js· 1 day ago
She's Forty with Me
WILTON CRAWLEY
js· 1 day ago
Tall Tillie's Too Tight
WILTON CRAWLEY
js· 1 day ago
More videos

New JMA Jazz Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Jazz News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us