HEAVY WEATHER

Poppy jazz-fusion at its slickest, you really couldn't find any tune in the fusion arena much catchier and dancier than ''Birdland''. HEAVY WEATHER is one of the more known Weather Report albums, but I believe Jaco Pastorius's appearance as the sole bass player has something to do with it. He adds a technical dimension to the group as nobody could play a flurry of notes like Jaco, and the horn-like sound of his bass is quite unique. Unfortunately, his over-abundant skill can get in the way of a good composition; ''Teen Town'' starts off nice, but the bass here distracts the good drumming (from Jaco) and sax playing.

The last three tracks are the best from the album, ''The Juggler'' being a choice pick from me as its mesmerizing atmosphere goes virtually unnoticed. ''Birdland'' isn't too bad, but gets old after some time. Between that track and ''Palladium'' is a bunch of nothing. ''Rumba Mama'' is the most questionable track here serving little more than Acuna and Badrena getting some composer credit. For the last three tracks alone, HEAVY WEATHER is a worthy album. Many a progster will be floored by Jaco's skill, but I find the true genius of Weather Report to be in founders Joe Zawinul and Wayne Shorter.