Primary Instrument: Band/ensemble/orchestra
Weather Report - Progressive jazz/fusion ensemble
Weather Report was an influential jazz fusion band of the 1970s and 1980s. Along with Return to Forever, Mahavishnu Orchestra and Herbie Hancock's Headhunters,it is seen as a definite representation of jazz fusion in the 1970s. This outfit had an enduring staying power as they were active for over fifteen years.
The band was originally a spin-off from the group of musicians associated with Miles Davis in the late sixties and early seventies. The stable core of the group was the duo of pianist/leader Joe Zawinul and saxophonist Wayne Shorter, while the other musicians were rotated with almost every album.
Initially, the band's music featured extended improvisation, similar to Davis' Bitches Brew-period work, and instrumentation included both a traditional trap set drummer and a second percussionist (first Airto Moreira, later Dom Um Romão).
Reedman Wayne Shorter furthered on his pioneering soprano sax work and both Zawinul and original bassist Miroslav Vitouš experimented with rock guitarists' electronic effects, Zawinul on electric piano and organ, Vitouš on upright bass, often bowed, as a second horn-like voice.
Among the notable musicians passing through Weather Report’s ranks was the late bassist Jaco Pastorius, who joined in 1976. Pastorius was present in a formidable way on 1977’s “Heavy Weather, ” and “Mr. Gone,” from 1978. Drummer Peter Erskine came on board at this time, and the band really took off. The cut “Birdland,” from Heavy Weather catapulted the band into best selling status, and is still representative of the band in premier form.
The group was unusual and innovative in abandoning the soloist-accompaniment demarcation of straight-ahead jazz and instead featuring continuous improvisation by every member of the band. They were also pioneers with their forays into what is now called World Music.
The lineup would shift often over the years, with only Shorter and Zawinul remaining until 1985, when the band wrapped things up. In 1987, following Weather Report’s split, Zawinul briefly toured solo and with a band he called Weather Update. Next he formed the Zawinul Syndicate which, like Weather Report, recorded for Columbia Records.
INDEX
Albums | Compilations | DVD/VHS
Albums
1971Weather Report | Columbia, 1971
Studio recording, March, 1971
Tracks: Milky Way; Umbrellas; Seventh Arrow; Orange Lady; Morning Lake; Waterfall; Tears; Eurydice.
Personnel: Wayne Shorter: tenor and soprano saxophones; Joe Zawinul: electric and acoustic pianos; Miroslav Vitous: electric and acoustic basses; Alphonse Mouzon: drums, voice; Airto Moirera: percussion; Barbara Burton: percussion; Don Alias: percussion.
1971/1972
I Sing the Body Electric | Columbia, 1972
Tracks #1-4: studio recording, November, 1971
Tracks #5-7: live recording, Tokyo, Japan, January 13, 1972
Tracks: Unknown Soldier; The Moors; Crystal; Second Sunday In August; Medley: Vertcal Invader/T.H./Dr. Honoris Causa; Surucucú; Directions.
Personnel: Wayne Shorter: soprano and tenor saxophones; Josef Zawinul: electric and acoustic pianos, ARP 2600 synthesizer; Miroslav Vitous: bass; Eric Gravatt: drums; Dom Um Romão: percussion; Andrew White: English horn; Hubert Laws: flute; Wilmer Wise: trumpet and piccolo trumpet; Ralph Towner: 12-string guitar; Yolande Bavan: voice; Joshie Armstrong: voice; Chapman Roberts: voice.
1972
Weather Report Live In Tokyo | Columbia, 1972
Live recording, Shibuya Philharmonic Hall, Tokyo, Japan, January 13, 1972
Tracks: Medley: Vertical Invader/Seventh Arrow/T.H./Dr. Honoris Causa; Medley: Surucucú/Lost/Early Minor/Directions; Orange Lady; Medley: Eurydice/The Moors; Medley: Tears/Umbrellas.
Personnel: Wayne Shorter: soprano and tenor saxophones; Josef Zawinul: acoustic and electric pianos; Miroslav Vitous: acoustic and electric basses; Eric Gravatt: drums; Dom Um Romão: percussion.
1973
Sweetnighter | Columbia, 1973
Studio recording, February 3-7, 1973
Tracks: Boogie Woogie Waltz; Manolete; Adios; 125th Street Congress; Will; Non-Stop Home.
Personnel: Wayne Shorter: soprano and tenor saxophones; Josef Zawinul: acoustic and electric pianos, synthesizer; Miroslav Vitous: acoustic and electric basses; Eric Gravatt: drums; Dom Um Romão: percussion; Maruga: percussion; Andrew White III: electric bass, English horn; Herschel Dwellingham: drums.
1974
Mysterious Traveller | Columbia, 1974
Studio recording
Tracks: Nubian Sundance; American Tango; Cucumber Slumber; Mysterious Traveller; Blackthorn Rose; Scarlet Woman; Jungle Book.
Personnel: Wayne Shorter: soprano and tenor saxophones, tac piano; Josef Zawinul: acoustic and electric pianos, synthesizer, guitar, kalimba, organ, tamboura, clay drum, tac piano, melodica; Alphonso Johnson: bass; Miroslav Vitous: bass; Ishmael Wilburn: drums; Skip Hadden: drums; Dom Um Romão: percussion; Ray Barretto: percussion; Maruga: percussion; Steve Little: Timpani; Don Ashworth: ocarinas and woodwinds; Isacoff: tabla, finger cymbals; Edna Wright: vocals; Marti McCall: vocals; Jessica Smith: vocals; James Gilstrad: vocals; Billie Barnum: vocals.
1975
Tale Spinnin' | Columbia, 1975
Studio recording, February 1975
Tracks: Man In The Green Shirt; Lusitanos; Between The Thighs; Badia; Freezing Fire; Five Short Stories.
Personnel: Wayne Shorter: soprano and tenor saxophones; Josef Zawinul: electric piano, melodica, acoustic piano, synthesizers, organ, steel drums, out, mzuthra, vocals, xylophone, cymbals; Alphonso Johnson: bass; Ndugu Leon Chancler: drums, tympani, marching cymbals; Alyrio Lima: percussion.
Black Market | Columbia, 1976
Studio recording, December 1975
Tracks: Black Market; Cannon Ball; Gibraltar; Elegant People; Three Clowns; Barbary Coast; Hernandu.
Personnel: Wayne Shorter: soprano and tenor saxophones, Computone Lyricon; Josef Zawinul: electric and acoustic pianos, synthesizers; Alphonso Johnson: electric basses; Jaco Pastorius: electric bass; Chester Thompson: drums; Narada Michael Walden: drums; Alejandro Acuña: congas and percussion; Don Alias: congas and percussion.
1977
Heavy Weather | Columbia, 1977
Studio recording
Tracks: Birdland; A Remark You Made; Teen Town; Harlequin; Rumba Mama; Palladium; The Juggler; Havona.
Personnel: Wayne Shorter: soprano and tenor saxophones; Josef Zawinul: electric and acoustic pianos, synthesizers, vocal, melodica, guitar, tabla; Jaco Pastorius: electric bass, mandocello, vocals, drums, steel drums; Alex Acuña: drums, congas, tom toms, handclap; Manolo Badrena: tambourine, congas, vocal, timbales, percussion.
1978
Mr. Gone | Columbia, 1978
Studio recording, May 1978
Tracks: The Pursuit Of the Woman In the Feathered Hat; River People; Young And Fine; The Elders; Mr. Gone; Punk Jazz; Pinocchio; And Then.
Personnel: Wayne Shorter: soprano and tenor saxophones, voice; Josef Zawinul: electric and acoustic pianos, synthesizers, effects, kalimbas, thumbeki drums, sleigh bells, melodica, high hat, voice; Jaco Pastorius: electric bass, drums, voice, timpani; Peter Erskine: drums; Tony Williams: drums; Steve Gadd: drums; Manolo Badrena: voice; Jon Lucien: voice; Deniece Williams: voice; Maurice White: voice.
1979
8:30 | Columbia, 1979
Live recording
Tracks: Black Market; Scarlet Woman; Teen Town; A Remark You Made; Slang; In A Silent Way; Birdland; Thanks For the Memories; Medley: Badia/Boogie Woogie Waltz; 8:30; Brown Street; The Orphan; Sightseeing.
Personnel: Wayne Shorter: soprano and tenor saxophones; Josef Zawinul: keyboards, synthesizers, vocoder; Jaco Pastorius: electric bass, drums; Peter Erskine: drums and percussion; Erich Zawinul: percussion; West Los Angeles Christian Academy Children's Choir: vocals.
1980
Night Passage | Columbia, 1980
Studio recording
Tracks: Night Passage; Dream Clock; Port Of Entry; Forlorn; Rockin' In Rhythm; Fast City; Three Views Of A Secret; Madagascar.
Personnel: Wayne Shorter: soprano and tenor saxophones; Josef Zawinul: keyboards; Jaco Pastorius: electric bass; Peter Erskine: drums; Robert Thomas Jr.: hand drums.
1981
Weather Report | Columbia, 1982
Studio recording, 1981
Tracks: Volcano For Hire; Current Affairs; N.Y.C.; Dara Factor One; When It Was Now; Speechless; Dara Factor Two.
Personnel: Wayne Shorter: soprano and tenor saxophones; Josef Zawinul: electric and acoustic pianos, clay drum, drum computer, percussion, voice, horn, woodwind; Jaco Pastorius: electric bass, percussion, voice; Peter Erskine: drums, drum computer, claves; Robert Thomas Jr.: percussion.
1983
Procession | Columbia, 1983
Studio recording
Tracks: Procession; Plaza Real; Two Lines; Where the Moon Goes; The Well; Molasses Run.
Personnel: Wayne Shorter: soprano and tenor saxophones; Josef Zawinul: keyboards, synthesizers; Victor Bailey: bass; Omar Hakim: drums, guitar and vocals; José Rossy: percussion, concertina; Manhattan Transfer: vocals.
Note: Manhattan Transfer on "Where The Moon Goes" only.
1984
Domino Theory | Columbia, 1984
Studio recording
Tracks: Can It Be Done; D Flat Waltz; The Peasant; Predator; Blue Sound/Note 3; Swamp Cabbage; Domino Theory.
Personnel: Wayne Shorter: soprano and tenor saxophones; Josef Zawinul: keyboards, synthesizers; Victor Bailey: bass; Omar Hakim: drums, guitar and vocals; José Rossy: percussion, concertina; Carl Anderson: vocals.
Note: Carl Anderson on "Can It Be Done" only.
1985
Sportin' Life | Columbia, 1985
Studio recording
Tracks: Corner Pocket; Indiscretions; Hot Cargo; Confians; Pearl On the Half-Shell; What's Going On; The Face On the Barroom Floor; Ice-Pick Willy.
Personnel: Wayne Shorter: soprano and tenor saxophones; Josef Zawinul: keyboards; Victor Bailey: bass, background vocals; Omar Hakim: drums, background vocals; Mino Cinélu: percussion, vocals, acoustic guitar; Bobby McFerrin: vocals; Carl Anderson: vocals; Dee Dee Bellson: vocals; Alfie Silas: vocals.
1985/1986
This Is This | Columbia, 1986
Studio recording, December 1985 - January 1986
Tracks: This Is This; Face the Fire; I'll Never Forget You; Jungle Stuff, Part I; Man With the Copper Fingers; Consequently; Update; China Blues.
Personnel: Wayne Shorter: soprano and tenor saxophones; Josef Zawinul: keyboards; Victor Bailey: bass; Peter Erskine: drums; Omar Hakim: drums; Mino Cinélu: percussion, vocals; Marva Barnes: vocals; Colleen Coil: vocals; D. Siedah Garrett: vocals; Darryl Phinnessee: vocals.
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Compilations
Live and Unreleased | Columbia, 2002Live recordings, 1975-1983
Tracks on disc 1: Freezing Fire; Plaza Real; Fast City; Portrait Of Tracy; Elegant People; Cucumber Slumber; Teen Town; Man In the Green Shirt.
Tracks on disc 2: Black Market; Where the Moon Goes; River People; Two Lines; Cigano; In A Silent Way; Night Passage; Port Of Entry; Rumba Mama; Medley: Directions/Dr. Honoris Causa.
Personnel: Wayne Shorter: tenor and soprano saxophones; Joe Zawinul: electric and acoustic pianos, synthesizers; Alphonso Johnson: electric bass; Victor Bailey: electric bass; Jaco Pastorius: electric bass; Chester Thompson: drums; Omar Hakim: drums; Peter Erskine: drums; Alex Acuña: drums, percussion; José Rossy: percussion; Robert Thomas: percussion; Manolo Badrena: percussion.
Forecast : Tomorrow | Sony/Columbia Legacy, 2006
Studio and Live recordings, 1969-19##
Three CDs plus one DVD
Tracks on CD 1: In A Silent Way; Super Nova; Experience In E (Excerpt); Milky Way; Tears; Eurydice; Orange Lady; Unknown Soldier; Directions; Surucucu; Second Sunday In August; 125th Street Congress.
Tracks on CD 2: Nubian Sundance; Blackthorne Rose; Badia; Cannon Ball; Black Market; Three Clowns; Havona; Birdland; Palladium; The Pursuit Of the Woman With the Feathered Hat; The Orphan; Sightseeing.
Tracks on CD 3: Dream Clock; Three Views Of A Secret; Port Of Entry; Dara Factor Two; Procession; Plaza Real; The Well; D-Flat Waltz; Domino Theory; Predator; Face On the Barroom Floor; Indiscretions; 125th Street Congress.
Note: "125th Street Congress" is a DJ Logic remix
Tracks on DVD: Black Market; Scarlet Woman; Young And Fine; The Pursuit Of the Woman With the Feathered Hat; A Remark You Made; River People; Thanks For the Memories; Medley: Delores/Portrait Of Tracy/Third Stone From the Sun; Mr. Gone; In A Silent Way; Waterfall; Teen Town; Medley: I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good/The Midnight Sun Will Never Set On You; Birdland; Introductions; Fred & Jack; Elegant People; Badia.
Personnel: Miles Davis: trumpet; Nat Adderley: cornet; Wilmer Wise: piccolo trumpet; Wayne Shorter: tenor and soprano saxophones, vocals; Julian Adderley: alto saxophone; Hubert Laws: flute; Andrew White III: English horn, electric bass; John McLaughlin: guitar; Sonny Sharrock: guitar; Herbie Hancock: electric piano; Chick Corea: electric piano; Joe Zawinul: organ, electric and acoustic pianos, melodica, synthesizers, oud, mzuthra, vocals, xylophone, kalimba, thumbeki drums, sleigh bells, vocoder; Dave Holland: bass; Miroslav Vitous: bass; Walter Booker: bass; Alphonso Johnson: electric bass; Jaco Pastorius: electric bass, drums, mandocello, vocals, steel drums; Victor Bailey: electric bass, vocals; Tony Williams: drums; Jack DeJohnette: drums; Roy McCurdy: drums; Alphonse Mouzon: drums; Eric Gravatt: drums, timpani; Herschel Dwellingham: drums; Darryl Brown: drums; Ndugu: drums; Narada Michael Walden: drums; Chester Thompson: drums; Peter Erskine: drums; Omar Hakim: drums, vocals; Airto Moreira: percussion; Dom Um Romão: percussion; Marungo: Israeli jar drum; Alyrio Lima: percussion; Don Alias: percussion; Alex Acuña: drums, percussion; Manolo Badrena: congas, tambourine, percussion; Robert Thomas Jr.: percussion; Mino Cinelu: percussion; José Rossy: percussion, vocals; Yolande Bavan: vocals; Joshie Armstrong: vocals; Chapman Roberts: vocals; Roger Powell: vocals; Jon Lucien: vocals; Carlos Caberini: vocals; West Los Angeles Christian Academy Children's Choir: vocals.
DVD/VHS
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