THIS IS THIS

The swan song of a once great fusion band Weather Reports This is this is a fitting end to the band. Gone is Jaco Pastorius and Wayne Shorter is religated to a supporting player on this album. This album is pretty much a heavily laiden keyboard album. Victor Bailey is a nice addition to the mix. He shines on the title track. I'll never forget you plays tribute to Joe Zawinul's parents. I feel this is the best track on the album. Strictly polyphonic synthesizers on it with some bass in the background. It slowly builds to tail off at the ending. Man with the copper fingers is the second best track on the album. Joe shines on it with some guitar and bass help. The Victor Bailey composition Consequently is reminesant of Jaco Pastorius work with Weather Report. Straight forward bass that offers Wayne Shorter a chance to shine on the album. A nice piece. China Blues rounds out the album. A sad way to end Weather Report. It is cliche for the times that is was written in. I get a feeling that Joe needed another song and nobody was around to help him out.

"Sportin' Life" that had been announced in 1985 might have been a part of a certain kind of end in the history of their music. The photograph with which Joe Zawinul and Wayne Shorter mutually shake hands on the back side of the album art is adopted. It is a photograph where the impression that pulls the act to the history of WR is given. The band's its informing the listener of the flow that a final phase was faced at the same time as appearing everywhere of this work resulted.

Shorter and Zawinul mutually announce the Solo album at this time. It is guessed that the directionality was in the flow to which the member creates more original music at the same time as showing individuality each other. "Di-a-lects" of the Solo album that Zawinul had announced was a work with the element like the world music where a personal music character appeared remarkably. And, "Atlantis" that Shorter had announced was a work of elegant Fusion that had digested the flow of WR. They might have a presentiment even if it thought from this respect and the aimed music character have a presentiment exactly at the same time ..with the difference.. the end of WR.

The color of fact Zawinul finishes and the end of the band that has strengthened ..shape like Solo of Zawinul.. has finished. The album is "This Is This".

Zawinul tries Producer. And, Petet Erskine tries Co-Producer. This fact was a result of the color of Zawinul having appeared in this work at the end. And, Shorter decides and puts the reason on this work by only two participation.

In addition, even if the fact that the musician who participated in the recording of this work participates in the faction of Zawinul back is considered, how this album became peculiar existence is understood. Original flow that WR has. Especially, the sense of high-quality Fusion had been digested in the 70's. It is true that they had evolved of course. However, the performance that WR had done in the 80's came to show another phase little by little with their ideas.

The tune that is called "Update" as other reasons is collected. This..fact..obviously..race..Music..character..intention..besides..new..Music..beginning of event.This name of a song develops into "Weather Update" back and it develops into "Zawinul syndicate" further. Therefore, it is guessed that the musician who participated in the recording of this album becomes the nucleus of the flow and the Proto type of the seed that is this work was made an embodiment. It is likely to have become an event that tested the music character to which Zawinul had newly created this work that had been announced by the name of WR about the problem of the contract to remain as a result.

It has the impression so not more effective even if it thinks about the histories of the overall composition and them though Santana participates only by two in this album. The listener who has gone out strongly the creation of Zawinul and doesn't want to admit this album the work of WR is not few either. The listener who can enjoy it might exist, too, if the name of WR is forgotten and it listens as a work. As for the fan, I will obviously feel the concept besides WR. It is a slight album that mixes with the color of Zawinul the sound of the band that has already ended.

"This Is This" is the 14th full-length studio album by US Jazz rock/fusion act Weather Report. The album was released through Columbia Records in June 1986. It´s the successor to "Sportin´ Life" from 1985 and was more or less released to fulfill the band´s contract with Columbia Records. Growing tensions and a feeling that the band had run its course meant that Joe Zawinul and Wayne Shorter ended Weather Report after the release of "This Is This".

Although Omar Hakum only performs on "Consequently" and Peter Erskine performs the drums on all other tracks, the remaining part of the core quintet lineup who recorded the two direct predecessors is intact: Joe Zawinul (keyboards/synths), Wayne Shorter (soprano & tenor saxophones), Victor Bailey (bass), and Mino Cinelu (percussion, vocals). Carlos Santana makes a guest guitar appearence on the opening title track and on "Man With the Copper Fingers", and his unmistakable playing style makes those songs stand out quite a bit. It´s not often Weather Report have included guitar on their music.

Stylistically the material on "This Is This" are relatively diverse and the listener is treated to ethnic world music styled fusion, ambient jazz rock/fusion ("I'll Never Forget You"), and a furiously fast played fusion track in "Update". If you´re familiar with the last couple of albums, you won´t be surprised by what "This Is This" has to offer. The musical performances are on a high level on all posts, and the album also features a well sounding production job, so while it´s certainly not the band´s most interesting release, it´s not a bad quality release either. On the other hand the choice to disband was probably the right one, as "This Is This" and the last couple of releases before that, only offer very little new and for the most part the music is lacking the edge of the band´s 70s heyday. A 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.