LIVE & UNRELEASED

Awesome! A great compilation of live material from 1975 to 1983, including terrific musicians as Jaco Pastorius (undeniably the best electric bass player of the planet), Chester Thompson (drums), Alphonso Johnson (bass), Peter Erskine (drums) and many others. Of course the founders Joe Zawinul (keys) and Wayne Shorter (sax) are at the helm of all five formations of the band included in this double CD, which includes more than 130 min of splendid and energetic first class fusion. Only Jaco´s material is worth the acquisition or price of this compilation. These guys seem to play better live than in studio, though all Weather Report studio albums deserve 3½ to 5 stars. My only complaint is the random order of the tracks. Surely it would be better a chronological order of the songs than the erratic sequence in the 2 CDs. This album is for lovers of fusion favouring instrumental jazz, plenty of improvisations and where all musicians are important and appear to be soloing simultaneously!!! Fans of good music should not miss this gem. Highly recommended!!!!