HEAVY WEATHER

So this is the biggest selling Jazz Fusion album of all time is it? I'm always a bit wary of facts like that when it comes to music. It's a bit like Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' being the biggest selling album of all time and therefore the best. Wrong. Very wrong.

'Heavy Weather' is an excellently clear recording and has an upbeat and cheery air about it. I'm a real sucker for fretless bass and Jaco Pastorius doesn't let me down on 'Heavy Weather'. I could listen to him all day. Poor Jaco with his bi-polar disorder, depression and alcoholism. Apparently he drank so much that if you put a lighted wick in his mouth it would burn for 3 days.

I must admit I'm not so keen on the borderline cheesy saxophone, however Joe Zawinul's keyboards are excellent providing the glue that holds everything together.

This is a very accessible point of entry into Jazz Fusion if you're new to it. There's nothing too challenging here. It's just a nice, colourful album with some fantastic musicians doing what they do best and making it sound so easy.