Fans of Weather Report and their live recordings will find much to enjoy on a new four disc set of the band. The four discs are sourced from audio board recordings of the band from live performances in 1978, 1980 and 1981. Weather Report was in arguably its most creative period of the time. The quartet configuration of Joe Zawinul, keyboards; Wayne Shorter, saxophones, Jaco Pastorius, bass; and Peter Erskine on drums is presented on two cds of live gigs.
Jaw-dropping moments of jazz artistry are captured here, a heartfelt duet between Zawinul and Shorter is one of the most beautiful renditions of "Come Sunday" this reviewer has yet heard. Familiar Weather Report gems "A Remark You Made", "Teen Town" and the hit "Birdland" shine along with other songs and solos from Pastorius and Erskine. The band expanded to a quintet configuration for performances in 1980 and 1981 with the addition of percussionist Robert Thomas, Jr. For this quintet configuration two more cds are presented with more remarkable performances of Weather Report gems such as "Madagascar", "Brown Street", and two brilliant solo statements from Jaco Pastorius. Highly recommended and certain to draw the listener in again and again. Liner notes included by band member Peter Erskine, who adds deep insight into the live concert performances.
The new 4 CD set is a follow up to Weather Report: Live and Unreleased, a 2 CD compilation of live recordings made of various configurations of the band from tours in the 1970s and 1980s.
The founders of the band, keyboard wizard Joe Zawinul and saxophonist Wayne Shorter launched the group in 1971. Previously they were involved in Miles Davis’ In a Silent Way/Bitches Brew recording sessions that launched fusion Jazz. Weather Report band personnel often changed, and the CD set performances document five different editions of the band led by Zawinul and Shorter. Weather Report’s acquisition of legendary bassist and composer Jaco Pastorius took the music to new heights in the late 1970s.
The group maintained a delicate balance between improvisation and structure, electric and acoustic textures, and melodic and atmospheric compositions. Weather Report enjoyed extraordinary critical and commercial success for 15 years until it disbanded in the mid 1980’s.
