Celebrating the Music of Weather Report
In 1970, saxophonistWayne Shorterand pianistJoe Zawinul, fresh from their stint withMiles Davis, created an ensemble that performed with a jazz sensibility coupled with a groundbreaking use of electronics. Known as Weather Report, their band undertook evolutionary explorations that one writer then described as "folk music of the future." By the time Weather Report disbanded in 1985, some of the brightest stars of the post-'60s era had passed through the group, including bassistJaco Pastorius, drummerPeter Erskine, and guitaristSteve Khan. Now another Davis sideman, keyboardist Jason Miles has produced a heartfelt tribute to WR with over 20 all-star performers. With ex-Weather ReportersVictor Baileyand Omar Hakim holding it down on bass and drums, Jason Miles and company's take on WR's music comes tailor-made for smooth-jazz audiences.Take 6's vocal samplings on the hit "Birdland" and the funky "Palladium" are as snappy as the harmonies of "A Remark You Made" and "Mysterious Traveller" are impressionistic. Add theBrecker Brothers, alto saxophonistDavid Sanborn, vibraphonistAndy Narrell, and pianistJoe Sampleinto the mix, and you have pointers aplenty to the sonic signature Zawinul and Shorter laid down years ago--and to the future sounds they made possible.--Eugene Holley, Jr.