WEATHER REPORT

Weather Report consisted mainly of alumni of Miles Davis' legendary Bitches Brew band, and became one of the leaders of the genre that album founded. On their first album, WR sounds much more like the Davis records and less like the funky, virtuosic style that would later define jazz fusion by the mid 70's. Like BB, the feel is quite free form and open. However, I actually feel that there is more going on here than on the sprawling BB. Though there is never a hook or jazz "head" to be found here, I feel like the jams have a better sense of movement, and hold my attention better.

Whether you like this album or not will depend entirely on your taste in space jams. Unlike Kraut or psychedelic rock, the jams here are paired with plenty of groove. This is not an over sedated dragging affair. In fact, the music evokes a crisp spring evening with the lights of a city in the distance. While evoking fantastic scenes, it is not an inward looking sound. For myself, this sound evokes a wonder in the world. Needless to say I like this style. Some will find it too aimless, too mellow, not enough technique. But for pure beauty, there's hard to find a better album in the whole J-F discography.

The basic sound on WR's debut is a combination of electric pianos providing a foundation for saxophone explorations. The rhythm section ducks in and out, with funky cymbal play and big fuzzy bass taking center stage on some tracks while sitting out other sections. This exact sound would be taken forward with a few more surprises for the next album I Sing the Body Electric. I'm frankly not sure which I like better. I rated that album a masterpiece, but something here just doesn't feel evocative enough to go that far.

Still if jazzy space jams are your thing, this album is pretty much can't miss.

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