Joe Zawinul Archive

Weather Report – The Legendary Live Tapes 1978-1981 – Columbia/Legacy (4-CDs)

Weather Report – The Legendary Live Tapes 1978-1981 – Columbia/Legacy (4-CDs)

Weather Report – The Legendary Live Tapes 1978-1981 – Columbia/Legacy (4-CD set) TT: 237:25 [11/20/15] ****: Weather Report finally releases vintage performances in a four-CD remastered box set. (Joe Zawinul – piano, keyboards, ARP Quadra, bass synthesizer; Wayne Shorter – tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone; Jaco Pastorious – bass; Peter Erskine – drums; Robert Thomas, Jr. – hand drums) Jazz fusion has always generated controversy. By combining elements of rock and funk with complex jazzy time signatures and chords, it attempted to create a wider accessibility using electric instruments. There was a movement in 1960s England to embrace this hybrid genre, most notably with The Graham Bond Organisation (featuring Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker) The jazz community was unenthusiastic about fusion, despite the advocacy and subsequent work by Gary Burton, Larry Coryell and especially Miles Davis. The veteran trumpeter had been a formidable innovator and was respected by his peers. Davis recorded a series of albums which featured a variety of musicians including Chick Corea, Ron Carter, Dave Holland, Wayne Shorter, Joe Zawinul, Tony Williams, Herbie Hancock and John McLaughlin. These musicians eventually formed their own bands. The most enduring “post-Miles” fusion band was Weather Report. Featuring two Davis alumni (Zawinul […]