HEAVY WEATHER

With Heavy Weather, Weather Report hit the jackpot in 1977. It is arguable that they were edgier on some other albums, and some compositions on other albums are more complete than most on this, but as a whole Heavy Weather works really, really well.

I'm not going to go into details and give ratings to different pieces. The biggest hit is Birdland, with its recognizeable opening riff. The piece only gets tighter and tighter towards the end. A true gem, if you ask me. Teen Town and Harlequin are interesting pieces of music with some great solos from Zawinul, Shorter and Pastorius.

The B-side (what's that? the teens are asking...) is a bit lighter, but then it is okay, because the fireworks of the A-side is so overwhelming.

There is only one problem with Heavy Weather AND ProgArchives, and that is the fact, that Heavy Weather is NOT prog. This is pure fusion JAZZ, and has really little or nothing to do with prog rock. However, that doesn't shade another fact: Heavy Weather is a brilliant album, whateverthe style, and an exellent addition to any collection, be it prog collection or not.