record collection revisited: Weather Report "Heavy Weather"

"Heavy Weather" is the title of the best known album by jazz fusion band Weather Report.  This band was another fusion offshoot in the 1970s including members of former bands led by Miles Davis during his electric period.  Joe Zawinul on keys and Wayne Shorter on saxes were Davis band alumni and in this band, also featured were drummer Peter Erskine and bassists Miroslav Vitous and Jaco Pastorius.  Jaco had fully become a part of Weather Report by the recording of "Heavy Weather" in 1977.  Weather Report used the same complexities as other fusion bands in their music.  But, they seemed to be more accessible to listeners through their musical style than say Return To Forever or Mahavishnu Orchestra, paving the way for the "smooth jazz" era in the '80s while retaining complexities found in the sound of jazz fusion.

The instrumental tracks rely heavily on Zawinul's use of synthesizers along with Pastorius on bass and Shorter on sax.  Shorter switched frequently between tenor and soprano saxophone on this record and on their other albums.  The songs are adventurous to listen to.  One of them ("Rumba Mama") has percussion and singing.  It is perhaps the band's take on "Birdland" that is the most recognizable of all their numbers, including those on this album.  Joe Zawinul wrote it.  But, it became a staple among other artists including jazz trumpet extraordinaire Maynard Ferguson, infamous jazz drummer Buddy Rich, Manhattan Transfer, and, even, The String Cheese Incident (according to the article about the tune from Wikipedia). 

The tune is a tribute to the Birdland jazz club in New York City named after Charlie Parker.  It's form as to how the song was written is very unique.  Jaco Pastorius is noted for his scat singing on it as well as his bass work on the whole album whether on fretted or fretless bass.  Besides the title cut, there are whole lot of other listenable and musical numbers within the album such as "A Remark You Made" where Shorter or tenor sax and Pastorius ob bass really stand out, and the unique track "Rumba Mama" which is just percussion overlaid with vocals.  Puerto Rican percussionist Manolo Badrena sings and plays on "Rumba Mama". 

Badrena has played with not just Weather Report, but also with acts like The Rolling Stones, Art Blakey, contemporary jazz fusion/smooth jazz band Spyro Gyra, Blondie, The Talking Heads, Michael Franks and jazz piano legend Ahmad Jamal.  This is a fun recording to listen to because of all the different sounds and emotions the band achieves in the compositions and how syncopated they are.  Check out Weather Report.  I do have another album of theirs and that one will be reviewed soon as well.  Stay tuned.

Here's the track list for "Birdland"

1. Birdland
2. A Remark You Made
3. Teen Town
4. Harlequin
5. Rumba Mama
6. Palladium
7. The Juggler
8. Havona