Heavy Weather

Top notch fusion! Legendary line-up as well. Very accessible fusion album overall and has some pop and period production elements to it.

A surprise new favorite, it was a great jam. I had never heard of them before but it all grooved and sounded awesome

Jaco. That’s it.

Great 70s jazz album.

Very funky

This was way better than I had imagined it would be. Jazz fusion is the genre. It was lovely. Yeah, this is absolutely great and I can't really say anything bad about it at all. It never gets boring, sometimes is sublime, and remains way up there as far as generally entertaining music is concerned. There are few lyrics, few bells and whistles, but it is a thing of beauty.

"Heavy Weather" is the seventh album by American jazz fusion band Weather Report. This album was their most successful album reaching #30 on the US Billboard 200 and is one of the best selling albums in the Columbia jazz catalog. The powerhouse jazz band included Joe Zawinul (synths, pianos, mellotron), Wayne Shorter (tenor and soprano sax), Jaco Pastorius (fretless bass, mandocello), Alex Acuña (drums, congas, tom-toms) and Marolo Badrena (tambourine, congas, vocals, timbales, percussion). "Birdland" opens the album with the music coming in very slowly. A constant beat. A lovely mix of the synth and horns. Every instrument is loud and clear. This song was a tribute to the nightclub where Zawinul saw a number of great jazz performers. This is one of the jazz songs that most everyone has heard at some point. "A Remark You Made" is softer. High-pitched piano keys. A sultry sax solo. Very relaxing. And, oh, a keyboard jam. Pastorius wrote and performed lead bass on "Teen Town." A kicking drum beat by Acuña. Jammy and funky. Pastorius' bass plays off of and with the keyboards and horns. Brilliant. "Palladium" is another great example of the musicians playing off of each other. It's more smooth jazz. Complex drumming. Multiple concurrent melodies. It's easy to see why this album was so successful. Easy and smooth listening. It's dreamy and relaxing. Just excellent musicianship of all instruments. There's really not any long songs which might deter some from a jazz album. There's also great melodies and solos. The fusion I heard was between jazz and rock and progressive rock. Even though I am in no way a jazz expert, I do believe I can tell a really good album and this is one of those.

A classic jazz fusion album from the 1970's. great musicianship especially from Jaco Pastorius and Joe Zawinul.

Jazzy but also synthy. Spotify description called it Jazzy rock so i believe it.

This was fun. Jaco and the boys gettin down on some polished crystal smooth jazz

Love this sound,

Love “Birdland” from my band days - glad to hear the rest of this classic album!

tasteful compositions, groovy, suggestive & moody. rly happy with this one, one more added to the list of records i will be coming back to.

5/5

Excellent

Yes

Funky! Jaco good

in the jazz world, there's often a negative vibe associated with the idea of achieving a certain level of commercial success, especially if your music leans electric. Weather Report, perhaps one of the most electrified groups in jazz history, proved with their first run of albums that an interest in amplification and synthesizers didn't necessarily mean you had to suddenly start writing pop songs. with Heavy Weather, though, Jaco Pastorius joins the battle. his signature fretless bass sound definitely swung the band's focus a little towards the mainstream (you could call this album a progenitor of smooth jazz), but in a way that feels less like a cash grab and more like a group of high-level jazz performers earnestly trying their hand at instrumental pop music. the opener, "Birdland", is one of the most iconic songs of the fusion era for good reason. hearing the melodies in the keys, horns and bass trading back and forth is a joy, and the whole thing builds to a tremendous climax. then you get hit with "A Remark You Made", a gorgeous ballad that puts Wayne Shorter's tenor saxophone in the center of some incredible harmony. these first two songs were written by Joe Zawinul, Weather Report's de facto leader, and are a fantastic display of how this band went about walking the line between jazz virtuosity and pop accessibility. the run of three tracks that closes the LP out are also stupendous, especially "Havona" with its epic introductory bass/synth chorale which comes back at the end to tie everything up. these three tracks also give Alex Acuña lots of opportunities for some tremendous drumming. as of the day I'm writing this, the 1001AG average on this album is a mere 2.98/5. I won't stand for this! decent 9/10.

Album 634 of 1001 Weather Report - Heavy Weather (1977) Rating : 5 / 5 Some awesome jazz fusion. Enjoyed this, very much. It was a real nice listening experience and great to start the day with. Not one negative.

That was quite excellent! I had not heard of them before but I'm definitely going to be hearing a lot more of them in the future.

Peak album

Great record. "Birdland" is a cracking tune, and it carries on from that opener. Saw them in 1984, without Jaco Pastorius.

It made me cry, it made me dance, this album is an all-timer and absolutely blew me away. Best Song: A Remark you Made Worst Song: The Juggler

Jaco on bass (esp: "Teen Town") is worth the admission alone. A classic - one of our Sunday morning vinyl staples. I do love good jazz fusion and although it's not quite up to my favourites in the genre (i.e. Herbie Hancock, Billy Cobham, George Duke) it is infinitely more accessible. That might be a drawback for HARDCORE FUSION HEADS but there's a lot of value in an album with tight songs that's not gonna drive away your family (sometimes...). Aside from Jaco's playing, my favourite individual moments/sounds are Joe Zawinul playing the ARP synth on "Palladium." 9/10 5 stars.

Not my favourite Weather Report album, but still very good of course. Zawinul and Shorter were total geniuses.

I can't imagine what this music sounds like to normal, non bass playing, people. Do you like it?

Definitely the Weather Report album I am most familiar with. Birdland and Teen Town are absolute jazz fusion classics. I came to this album through hearing about Jaco over and over in music magazines.

Funcionou demais como trilha do café da manhã do domingo.

What a vibe! And Jaco on bass... just great.

Klassieker en met reden! Geweldige nummers, origineel, en het begin van een nieuwe vertakking in de jazz.

**Heavy Weather by Weather Report: An In-Depth Review** **Introduction** Released in 1977, *Heavy Weather* by Weather Report stands as one of the seminal albums in the jazz fusion genre. The album represents the pinnacle of the band’s creativity, blending complex jazz compositions with rock, funk, and world music elements. This review will delve into various aspects of the album, including its musical composition, lyrical content (though sparse), production quality, thematic elements, and the broader influence it had on music. Additionally, the review will assess the pros and cons of the album, providing a balanced perspective on its legacy. ### Musical Composition **Instrumentation and Arrangements** *Heavy Weather* is notable for its intricate and dynamic arrangements. The band, composed of Joe Zawinul (keyboards), Wayne Shorter (saxophone), Jaco Pastorius (bass), Alex Acuña (drums), and Manolo Badrena (percussion), delivers a performance that is both technically proficient and emotionally compelling. The opening track, “Birdland,” is perhaps the most iconic piece from the album. It’s a vibrant, energetic composition that blends jazz with a pop sensibility, making it accessible to a wider audience. The track is built around a catchy melody played by Zawinul on the synthesizer, supported by a tight rhythm section and Shorter’s saxophone lines. The use of unison lines between the bass and synthesizer, combined with complex chord structures, showcases the band’s innovative approach to jazz. “Teen Town,” composed by Pastorius, highlights his virtuosity on the bass. The track features a syncopated bassline that serves as both the rhythm and melody, a rarity in jazz music. Pastorius’ playing is fluid and melodic, demonstrating his ability to push the boundaries of the bass guitar. “Harlequin” and “A Remark You Made” offer a more introspective and lyrical side of the band. The compositions are lush and atmospheric, with Shorter’s saxophone providing a hauntingly beautiful melodic line. The interplay between Zawinul’s keyboards and Shorter’s saxophone creates a sonic landscape that is both serene and emotionally charged. **Harmonic and Rhythmic Complexity** The harmonic language of *Heavy Weather* is rooted in jazz but incorporates elements of rock and world music. Zawinul’s use of synthesizers allows for a broad palette of sounds, ranging from warm, analog tones to more abstract, electronic textures. The harmonic structures are complex, often utilizing modal scales and unconventional chord progressions. Rhythmically, the album is a marvel of syncopation and groove. Acuña and Badrena provide a percussive foundation that is both intricate and danceable. The rhythms often shift between different meters, creating a sense of unpredictability and excitement. “Rumba Mamá,” a percussion-driven track, showcases the band’s exploration of Afro-Cuban rhythms, adding to the album’s diversity. ### Lyrics and Vocal Elements *Heavy Weather* is primarily an instrumental album, which is typical of Weather Report’s style. The lack of traditional lyrics allows the music to speak for itself, with the instruments serving as the primary vehicles for expression. However, there are moments of vocalization, such as the wordless singing in “Birdland,” which adds a layer of texture to the music. The use of the human voice in an instrumental context is effective in conveying emotion and enhancing the overall atmosphere of the album. In this sense, *Heavy Weather* communicates its themes and moods through the interplay of melody, harmony, and rhythm rather than through conventional lyrical narratives. ### Production Quality **Sound Engineering and Mixing** The production quality of *Heavy Weather* is outstanding, particularly for its time. The album was produced by Zawinul and Shorter, with engineers Ron Malo and Bruce Botnick handling the technical aspects. The sound is crisp and clear, with each instrument occupying its own space in the mix. The balance between the instruments is meticulously crafted, allowing the listener to appreciate the nuances of each performance. The use of synthesizers and electronic effects is integrated seamlessly into the acoustic elements of the band. Zawinul’s keyboards, which range from Rhodes pianos to cutting-edge synthesizers, are given a prominent place in the mix without overwhelming the other instruments. The bass is warm and punchy, providing a solid foundation for the music while also being able to stand out when necessary, as in “Teen Town.” **Innovative Recording Techniques** One of the notable aspects of the album’s production is the innovative use of recording techniques. For example, the layering of multiple keyboard tracks in “Birdland” creates a dense and rich sonic texture. The use of reverb and delay on Shorter’s saxophone adds a sense of space and depth, giving the music an almost ethereal quality. The production also captures the energy and spontaneity of the band’s performance. There is a live, organic feel to the album, which is a testament to the skill of the musicians and the production team. The recording techniques employed on *Heavy Weather* were ahead of their time, contributing to the album’s status as a landmark in jazz fusion. ### Themes and Concepts **Exploration and Innovation** Thematically, *Heavy Weather* is an exploration of musical boundaries. The album does not adhere to a single genre or style; instead, it blends elements from various musical traditions to create something entirely new. This sense of exploration is reflected in the album’s compositions, which are adventurous and unconventional. The title *Heavy Weather* itself suggests a journey through different musical landscapes, each with its own mood and atmosphere. The album can be seen as a reflection of the turbulent and dynamic nature of the 1970s, a time of significant social and cultural change. The music is both a product of its time and a timeless expression of artistic creativity. **Emotional Depth and Atmosphere** While *Heavy Weather* is often celebrated for its technical brilliance, it is also a deeply emotional album. Tracks like “A Remark You Made” convey a sense of melancholy and introspection, while “Birdland” exudes joy and exuberance. The emotional depth of the album is achieved through the expressive playing of the musicians and the rich harmonic language of the compositions. The atmospheric quality of the music is another key theme. The album creates a sense of space and environment, drawing the listener into its world. Whether it’s the bustling energy of “Birdland” or the serene beauty of “Harlequin,” *Heavy Weather* is an album that engages the listener’s imagination and emotions. ### Influence and Legacy **Impact on Jazz and Popular Music** *Heavy Weather* is one of the most influential albums in the jazz fusion genre. Its success helped to popularize jazz fusion, bringing the genre to a wider audience. The album’s blend of jazz, rock, and world music elements has had a lasting impact on subsequent generations of musicians. The track “Birdland” has become a standard in both jazz and popular music. Its catchy melody and accessible structure have made it a favorite among musicians and listeners alike. The song has been covered by numerous artists, including The Manhattan Transfer, who won a Grammy Award for their vocal arrangement of the tune. **Influence on Musicians and Genres** Jaco Pastorius’ innovative bass playing on *Heavy Weather* has been particularly influential. His use of harmonics, fretless bass, and melodic playing style has inspired countless bassists across various genres. Pastorius’ work on the album is considered a benchmark for electric bass playing, and his influence can be heard in the music of artists ranging from Marcus Miller to Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The album’s fusion of different musical styles has also influenced the development of other genres, such as progressive rock and electronic music. Bands like King Crimson and Genesis incorporated elements of jazz fusion into their music, while electronic artists have drawn inspiration from the album’s use of synthesizers and production techniques. ### Pros and Cons **Pros** 1. **Musical Brilliance**: *Heavy Weather* showcases the extraordinary musicianship of Weather Report. The compositions are complex and innovative, yet accessible and engaging. 2. **Production Quality**: The album’s production is top-notch, with a clear and balanced mix that highlights the nuances of each instrument. The use of innovative recording techniques adds depth and texture to the music. 3. **Influence**: The album has had a profound impact on jazz fusion and beyond, influencing musicians across various genres. 4. **Emotional and Atmospheric Depth**: The album is not just technically impressive but also emotionally resonant, offering a rich and immersive listening experience. 5. **Iconic Tracks**: Tracks like “Birdland” and “Teen Town” have become iconic in their own right, celebrated for their composition and performance. **Cons** 1. **Accessibility**: While *Heavy Weather* is more accessible than some of Weather Report’s earlier work, its complexity may still be challenging for listeners unfamiliar with jazz fusion. The album demands active listening and may not appeal to those seeking more straightforward music. 2. **Lack of Lyrics**: The absence of traditional lyrics may be a drawback for some listeners who prefer vocal-driven music. The album relies entirely on instrumental expression, which may not resonate with everyone. 3. **Consistency in Innovation**: Some critics argue that the album, while innovative, doesn’t consistently push the boundaries of jazz fusion throughout all its tracks. While tracks like “Birdland” are groundbreaking, others like “The Juggler” may seem less adventurous. ### Conclusion *Heavy Weather* by Weather Report is a landmark album in the history of jazz fusion. Its blend of complex compositions, virtuosic performances, and innovative production techniques has earned it a place among the greatest jazz albums of all time. The album’s influence can be seen in the work of countless musicians across various genres, and its tracks continue to be celebrated for their creativity and emotional depth. While the album may present challenges for some listeners due to its complexity and lack of conventional lyrics , these aspects are also what make it a rewarding and enduring piece of art. *Heavy Weather* remains a testament to the power of musical exploration and the ability of artists to transcend the boundaries of genre. Whether you are a seasoned jazz aficionado or a newcomer to the genre, *Heavy Weather* offers a rich and compelling listening experience that is sure to leave a lasting impression.

very warm and perky fusion jazz music that has a fair share of bossa and latin pop influence. heavy weather is a great title, i feel like this album literally sounds like this big.... windy storm, but if said storm had a dozen musicians just circling around and around. these basslines especially drive me crazy in the best way. there's just something so engaging about a lot of fusion albums, even if the songs were written with such thought and complexity, the average listener still has a positive mood and usually can always imagine every band member just smiling and having a grand ol' time. it's what makes these albums, including this one special.

This is a 5 for me. Fusion w great songwriting and always keeps me on my toes. The bass solo in havona 🤯

What an incredible album! I'm not sure how I missed out on these guys during my prime jazz listening day, but that's fully rectified now. This is the type of jazz you should show your friends to get them into jazz. Soulful, tons of swing, extremely connected units. This is also a beautiful album cover that is going to look fantastic in my record collection. Loved this. Favorite track: Birdland

This album is great. Jaco Pastorius was one of the greatest bassists to live. Teen Town is a jazz classic, Birdland is also a great song off this album. I also enjoyed Palladium and Havona. Great album

A jazz album I actually love! Mostly due to the bass guitar being front and center for a lot of the album, gives it a different feel.

One word: Jaco Liked songs added: - Birdland - Teen Town - Havona

I LOVED this one. Love me some jazz with a good vibe to it, and this one hit the nail on the head for me. Definitely will be adding to my vinyl collection when possible.

Smooth, relaxed, amazing 70’s jazz. Birdland alone makes the album, but the rest of the tracks were filled with awesome and diverse jazz movements. Worth multiple listens.

I liked it a lot. To bass players, Jaco is as iconic as Jimi Hendrix is to guitarists. However to some, being a legendary bass player is about as impressive as being a legendary dentist. I thought it was a really interesting album and packed a lot into just 37 mins.

you already gave me this shit motherfucker c'mon

I LOVE new age jazz so much man its so good. a remark you made has to be one of my all time favourite songs its so cool in a heyo daddio kind of way. like im smoking a cigarette rn as i walk down the street as the sun sets i love it i love it i love it

I was convinced that I'd like this going in, and my opinion hasn't changed. It's a little "out there" so this album probably isn't great for ad hoc listening, but this is definitely a groove I can dig.

jesus when you know you know thank god for jazz where is the vinyl

One of my favorite jazz albums

When all the other 70’s music got to be soooo stupid, there was always great jazz from Weather Report. Never disappointed.

Another favorite from 40 years ago. Highly produced and commercial, every song is memorable 5 stars

Weather Report is a classic jazz staple and this album is no exception to that. Five stars, no notes, perfection

anything with jaco is an instant 5 star

Top!

Angenehme Hintergrundmusik

Great album. One of my favourite jazz albums. As a bass player in a life far, far away, Jaco was always an inspiration. His playing on Teen Town still floors me. The musicianship is top notch. 5 star classic.

Jazz - 1977

Absolute firecracker of an album. Starts out hot as a fireball and quickly switches to a cooler tempo with A Remark You Made and then builds and builds back up to super hot fire before ending with Havona. The Orioles need to get the rights to Birdland and make an 80s themed hype video using it and use it around the ballpark to get the fans jazzed up. This album is incredible. Every instrument had time to shine and took full advantage of the spotlight. The drummer deserves a special accolade because that man kept driving the beat without a single hesitation or slip up.

Album Art 10/10 that is one of the most unique covers I have ever seen I want that to be the art on the deck of my next snowboard. The sounds like the Local on the 7s from the Weather Channel back in the 90s but on steroids. Jazz fusion may be my new favorite genre of music. Any album that is so enjoyable with only instrumentals will always be a 5 star for me.

Fretless bass sounds like a wet fart. But a good one. Hypnotic. RIP Jaco ❤️

Very good jazz fusion. Easy and fun listening to this. Good performances as well. Very cool! Will come back to this.

HOOOOOOOO BABY THIS IS FIRE. I didnt even realize this was Jaco until the 2nd or 3rd listen. Absolute classic and will be returning to this many times in the future

Jazz instrumental muito bem tocado

Finally, something that is truly brand new to me! I really enjoyed this, will listen to more by Weather Report. It's just good vibes.

Classic Jazz nice!!!!!!!

Have never heard of this one, feels jazzy, but with a heavy-handed 70's classic rock backing. Interesting for sure but I don't think im a personal fan of this genre, let's see. This first track has an extremely hopeful feel to it, is actually putting me into a happier mood, rare for music to create that emotion for me. Similar to the Cowboy Bebop OST. I actually like this album A LOT. This is most likely the first album I've never heard of before that I give a 5 rating. There's a slightly excessive use of bongos, I'd like to hear more variation in the choices of secondary percussion. Still, the level of layering on most of these songs is absolutely incredible. Very tight compositions here.

Not bad was pretty impressed.

Love Birdland.

Good

one of my favorite fusion albums — a masterpiece from beginning to end - 10/10

Hell yeah. Havona slaps 4.5/5

Jazz had been led astray by the mid to late 1970s. So many sub-genres had popped up, lending itself to curiosity and dissension and many of the genre's luminaries were either fusing themselves to the changing times, clinging on hopelessly to past primes or were long dead/approaching death. Clearly, jazz was in need of a weather report. While the group itself were not new and most of the members were veterans of the scene, it is no stretch to consider Heavy Weather to be a great first album to get in touch with the band's stylings. An appropriate mixture of what was past and then-present, Heavy Weather neither offends nor becomes pretentious, becoming one of the best representatives of post-fusion jazz in the process. There is plenty to like and plenty to get ahold of in either the standard album or the expanded version (the added on live tracks are no nuisance) and the curious minded would not have a problem with Heavy Weather if they give it the time it richly deserves. P. S. the album cover kicks ass.

YESSSSS! JACO!!!!! Every song on here is beautiful and I love this mess. Teen Town kills it. Havona is so good. Damn this album is just so tight.

This album is legendary. I love every second of it for years now. Thank you for giving me this album today. It will be a nice re-listening.

Okay, this is cooool. Obvious five stars for atmospheric instrumental jazz with just enough synth to keep you on your toes.

Более электронный джаз, который довольно бойко и круто влетает в тебя

А почему мы вдруг резко решили уйти от альтернативы и тяжеляка, причём так кардинально? Неужто скучные альбомы кончились?)) У меня ещё на первом треке кажется случился снос башни. Звучит как что-то среднее между аниме-опенингом, песни из интро к шоу Леттермана и заставки программы Время (Время вперёд, короче). Так быстро, стремительно, эклектично пронеслись эти 6 минут. Но остальные треки как-то поскучнее оказались. Зато там есть потрясные соляки на безладовом басе! Это прям мммм, аааа, конфетка. Да и просто фоном он звучит офигенно, в Harlequin, например. Так, середина. Что такое Rumba Mama? Это кто-то на диктофон записывал каких-то латиносов, или что?)) Как-то странно... И немного не туда. Но как разгрузка в середине альбома - чётко. Если подводить итог, то в целом альбом классный. Его не стыдно включить на виниле на домашней тусе, можно смело добавить пару треков в повседневный плейлист. Много разных жанров намешано. К концу вообще в какой-то спейс джаз ушло, ну или что-то подобное. Прикольно, неожиданно. Если ругать за что-то - только если за какую-то странную румбу. Не из этой оперы вообще, глубинный смысл не понят.

a Weather Report classic

This was my first introduction to Jaco Pastorius. I love this album. This is an important recording due to it's commercial success and many folks intro into fusion jazz. It contains elements of jazz, latin, rock, and soul music. I definitely have a sentimental connection to this album and have listened to it many time since my introduction in the early '80s. I listen to this as great musicians interacting with each other and no one artist is better than the next.

Great album. Cool grooves. Didn't know what to expect. Every song puts you in a good mood. Can't wait to see what the rest of my group thinks about this.

I consider A Remark You Made one of the greatest compositions ever.

HUGE FAN. I loved the jazz/rock fusion. Absolutely amazing album. 10/10.

Wow! What a nice surplice. This was excellent. I see why they call the genre 'fusion.' Jazzy and funky and kinda perfect for early mornings. Will definitely return to this quite a bit.

A jazz fusion classic. Jaco Pastorious is so good, such a unique bass sound. Of course « Birdland » is a true masterpiece in itself but the whole album is really good.

Surprisingly good, has Supertramp vibes with the wide use of instruments Instrumental + , jazz, so good, I love it!!

Veeery cool !

Sehr gut. Ich musste etwas Anlauf nehmen bin aber dann doch noch eingestiegen.

Unexpected

Tydzien instrumentalny na liscie trwa w najlepsze, tym razem z poteznymi jojowymi referencjami, bo grany jest heavy weather bedacy siodmym studyjnym krazkiem jazzowej bandy weather report pod przewodnictwem pana Zawinula, ktory juz sie pojawil na liscie na plycie Davisa, ale zdecydowanie nie jest to krazek jednej osoby, bo w sklad zespolu wchodza takie nazwiska jak Wayne Shorter, wiec legendarna saksa, Jaco Pastorius na basie, Alex Acuña drumsy i Manolo Badrena tamburyniarz i perkusja, wiec paleta charakterow zaowocowala roznorodnymi kompozycjami, bo kazdy z czlonkow ma swoj kawalek, ktorych lacznie jest 8 na 37 minutach, co jednak najbardziej mnie urzeklo podczas odsluchu, to idealny balans na granicy improwizacji a kompozycji, ktora ma charakteryzowac fussion, no i nie mozna zapomniec o wykorzystaniu ciekawych instrumentow, bo klawisze Zawinula, to pianinko, elektryczna klawiaturka, jak i konsola synthowa, tak samo z saksa pojawia sie zarowno w wersji tenorowej jak i sopranowej, podobnie Jaco gral glownie na basie i to jeszcze bezprogowym, ale na otwierajacym birdlandzie gra on na mandoloncelle, wiec specyficzna wloska lutnia, grajaca dosc niskie tony, krazek niesamowicie lekki, raczej utrzymany w dosc szybkim tempie, a jednoczesnie przepelniony ciekawym wielowarstwowym brzmieniem, ktore jednak nie zabija energii ktora wrecz bije z poszczegolnych instrumentow, ale najbardziej czuc to z grania pana Jaco, ktorego kawalki sa dla mnie hajlajtami albumu, wiec na plejke leci otwierajacy birdland i zamkykajacy havona, ciekawy lore piece na temat pana Jaco, to fakt ze mial dziwne hobby polegajace na szukaniu barowych bojek, wiec prawie jak w fajt klubie, takie hobby z pewnoscia nie sprzyja zdrowotnosci, bo w wieku 35 lat zakonczyl swoj zywot przed wrotami jednego z barow, swietny basista i ciekawa postac z tego ktotkiego opisu

Brilliant! Jazz funk, constant tap your foot stuff, big fan

classic - love it

I love this album! Weather Report slaps.

A true masterpiece, timeless, a jewel for the ages. Let's give it 10 stars!

one of the first jazz super groups - incredible album, great background music.

This is awesome. Didn't know about the existence of this band and ended up hearing this album and others multiple times.

LOOOOVED this. The bass, the drums, the grooves, everything.

6 estrellas nomás por los lolz. y por subir el promedio. consumí esto irónicamente, es música para la hora de la comida, jazz de programa de tv. fenomenal.

wow

Ein Jazzklassiker! Sehr gut.

RIP Jaco

This is a fun upbeat dramatic jazz album that kind of embodies the name: heavy weather. It is fiery and breezy and encompasses a passion in it. The saxophone was beautiful, naturally, and I found myself bopping along. This is the type of jazz I would enjoy listening to live however I’m not sure if I would just have it on vinyl to listen to in the house, as I prefer more lied back jazz. That, of course, is just personal preference. Overall though I enjoyed listening to this album.

I do remember the first song. And I enjoyed most of the Album.

Today’s forecast shows hot jazzy beats. 7/10

Really liked it. I pretty much always like free jazz or fusion stuff, but I find the genres pretty intimidating, just so much stuff out there that I don't know. Kind of like trying to get into soccer.

Leuke ontdekking. Ontspannende, afwisselende melodieën

Cool, anders ! Maar wel ietsje te druk om tijdens het werk te luisteren 🤯

this has a bunch of nice jazzy stuff on it. i'm inclined to like it just because my friends seem really into it but even without that, the first song alone made me curious enough to go see how these guys were classified. haven't heard anything quite like it and novelty counts for something

Highlights: Birdland, A Remark You Made, Teen Town, Palladium. 4.0

I do remember enjoying Weather Report's previous album "Black Market" a bit more. But while this album was a bit less adventurous and a fair bit more boilerplate when it comes to jazz-fusion, I found the music here to still be some of the most unique-sounding stuff in this synth-jazz funk field, and it was a very enjoyable album to get through. Weather Report just has such a unique vibe. Opener 'Birdland' was particularly catchy; there's something so uplifting about the core melody and progression of this song, and I love the way it coasts with that deeper synth lead and drone around the halfway mark; it really is those winding song structures that this band does so well. 'Palladium' was also really great, it has this almost Herbie Hancock feel to it, with the hand percussion and very present bassline, and the way the band picks up the tempo near the middle with this super complex groove was great. The cute little spiraling synth melody of 'The Juggler' was another highlight here; the song, more than any other on here, really plays into that synth-funk odyssey feel, rising and falling in a very dramatic fashion. The song reminds me of early '70s prog, if anything. And the closing 'Havona' is "driving into the sunset" music at its best. I just really love the large analog feel of the synths on this album, and how they're paired with these very sticky melodies. It's more easy-going than your average jazz album, but it never felt dull. The fusions here, I don't think Western music would fully start embracing until like the mid '80s - so that's pretty impressive in its own right.

nutty bass

Absolutely 5 worthy, just not one of my all time favorites. Global average of a 2.99 though?? wtf that's easily the most egregious score I've come across on this website (and I've seen some odd scores)

Not my thing, but great work.

ILY JAZZ FUSION <3 MARRY ME. Weather Report has been in my scope of wanting to listen to more ever since i originally listened to their debut album years back. Cool vibes and i always love any version of Birdland (shoutout Birdland)

This is such a relaxing and great listen, some really good jazz fusion crafted from such talented musicians. The album is quite dynamic and funky, while not being too much. Birdland and Teen Town are definitely the highlights, but the rest are great too (minus whatever Rumba Mama was).

Fun instrumental album with a lot of character

Killer funk jazz

Not a huge fan of jazz fusion but I've heard Jaco Pastorius on other albums so I knew this would be worth the listen. Of course the bass is other-worldly but it's not like he carried the band on this one. Plenty to like and worth another listen or two.

Super cool fusion of jazz with synths. It was over before I was finished with it! Absolutely earns its run time and then some. Awesome album cover too. Listen to that bass on "Birdland"—wild stuff from Jaco Pastorius. I'm not a big jazz guy, but this was so worth the listen!

Im a big bass guy and I've hit all the popular bass guys at this point, at least i thought so. Ive heard the name jaco for years but never listened to him much. But here it all come together. And I know this isnt soley about him but I gotta get this outta the way first. Dude can play like none other. Wow. He bookends this record with some incredible performances. And in a record with other incredible performances. The guy on keys kills it from end to end. The percussion is less noticeable for me but still anyone who is flying through this odd timed stuff is pretty sick in my book. Its just musicians musicians showing off. Its so cool. Im not a huge jazz guy so I dont know all that much but this is approachable for a novice like me. I think thats a pretty cool thing to be open and welcoming in a genere that might be a bit snobby looking from the outside. Every song has some amazing section that could be one of the greatest things ive ever heard. I will say if I have one complaint its that there are some slower and sleepier sections im less stoked on but its fine when it slaps me in the face with some musical idea that I love in a song im not 100% in on. Very cool record with so much going for it. I have almost nothing but good things to say. Worth getting into and with it being a supergroup I have lots of detours to take to hear more of these guys.

Enjoyable Jazz album. Would probably rate 3.5 and lean towards 4. Would listen to again.

Huh, jazz!

Little tip for you. What I do, I stick to classic jazz when I DJ, yeah And then, just when they're least expecting it, drop some Weather Report in. Ow! Blows their minds. Might want to try that yourself.

Excellence and great performers

A great album, an ambitious fusion of disparate elements worthy of such epic sleeve art. The elephant on the room of this record is, of course, Jaco's once-in-a-generation-(if-that) smooth grooves on the fretless bass. it's funky as FUCK. Teen Town, Paladium, Havona... turn up the bass on your speakers and ride the jazz-fusion slip-n-slide. Jaco's legendarily dextrous fingers could get snakes tapping their toes, and in the politest way his mastery of the instrument is a sheer freak of nature, some funkadelic force majeure. The rest of the album is still pretty good, even if it struggles to keep up: the retro-sounding synthesizers sometimes clash with the more traditionally jazzy sounds, but the warm retro feeling and unabashedness of it feels like a refreshingly cool breeze. Fav tracks: Birdland, Teentown, Palladium

Great fusion album. Birdland is the standout of course

this was quite good although i was asleep for about half of it so idk how much weight this rating holds

fortíssimo mesmo, hein jazz fusion eh bão demais, não tem jeito. os instrumento tudo lindo demais como pode isso

A lot of energy and really enjoyed it. Not always in the mood for driving Jazz but fun album

Good stuff

Strong start and settled down as thr album progressed. Still cool!

It's hard to imagine the songs on Heavy Weather being created, rather than just existing and then being conjured by capable enough musicians. Colorful, and packed with a surprising amount of dimensionality for a record released in the eye of the lifeless production storm languidly ravaging the late 70s, Wayne Shorter and Jaco and that other guy really make magic here. The songs and the instruments on board get in, do their dance, and then get the fuck out of the way. Putting my finger on why this release makes me so happy is a tall order. I find something new to love every time I listen. I can only glaze that which I do not understand for so long.

Great jazz

Awesome drum solo in Harlequin, Jaco is also amazing, and I did not know Wayne Shorter was in this band, that's really cool. I also probably didn't know who Wayne Shorter was the first time I checked this band out.

1. The Juggler 2. A Remark You Made 3. Birdland

I enjoyed listening to this one I remember Birdland

Nice mix of easy listening and Virtuosic jazz. Drums are so crisp.

slick

My uncle's favourite band. Cool and laid back jazz fusion! Low 4 stars

8 / 10

Not bad, I think I preferred Herbie Hancock, but this made me feel like I was playing Gran Turismo

A nice to listen to jazz fusion album. Can sound basic and background-y to modern ears, but still a nice listen. 4*

Vrhunski album! Morat ću ga poslušati još par puta u skorije vrijeme! 4/5, 7/10

This was a trippy chill album. Four stars

Great Jazz Fusion

han driglost willi d'band ehrlich gseid mit fishmans verwechslet hend will di es lied namens weather report hend… erst nach lied 3 gmerkt, dass es nöd die sind – defür hani gmerkt, dassi trotzdem scho es lied vo weather report gspeicheret han und ha alles sehr gnosse… hauptsächlich de ahfang, nacher isch de zauber chli verfloge (vermuetli weg de starke windböe vo nordweste)

4.5 Terrible cover! Great album!

Nice album I like the jazz stuff

I had no idea this was a jazz album or even a jazz band. A great album, I will buy the cd or vinyl for my collection.

Teen town!

The only jazz album I've listened to that sounded like more than just background music.

Pretty cool album. Great use of sound and instruments to express emotions and artistry.

This was cool. Will revisit.

4.7

That was some cool jazz! Fun, dynamic, and interesting, this was a genuinely really unique album that showed a really cool side to the genre. The instrumental pallet is super impressive, with many instruments not being typical in jazz music, but still managing to be used in a very natural and tasteful way, and I love it when music is able to do that. This one really did surprise me, it's such an unsuspecting album and on paper it doesn't seem at appealing to me. But it really caught my attention in a way I could never have predicted, and I love getting these occasional reminders that there is still music out there that I don't even know exists yet that I will love.

Really great fusion album, which mean it's not really for everyone. Everyone feel locked in and the opening track is a really catchy track. mostly it is really about the solos so I get why allot of people might not like it.

Look at that album cover! It was an enjoyable album through and through!

*insert jojo references here* jokes aside, never listened to these guys Birdland - 5/5 A Remark You Made - 5/5 Teen Town - 4/5 (too short!) Harlequin - 3/5 Rumba Mamá - 3/5 Palladium - 4/5 The Juggler - 5/5 Havona - 5/5 Average score: 4.3/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ i hear so much about Weather Report (not just from JJBA) so i figured i would like it more than i do currently. to my surprise, i found this a little underwhelming in some tracks, like they were maybe playing safer/more mainstream than usual? that being said, this isn't a bad album at all. i just sense this isn't their best work. i'd come back to it again i suppose

Love it.

Название группы хорошо отражает музыку. Но хочется вернуться к альбому снова.

Very fresh to hear an album like this on the list

I have high standards for the year 1977. In my opinion, it's the most high-calibre year of music of all time (with 1969 and 1971 being close contenders). So anything placed into this list had better have a very convincing case for squaring up against the likes of Aja, Saturday Night Fever, Rumours, Animals, The Stranger, News Of The World, Low, Marquee Moon... And Heavy Weather absolutely stands up against the giants. It's harmonically complex, varied in texture, played with skill and sass. The composition is undeniably excellent even if you aren't a fan of jazz. Birdland has arguably evolved into a jazz/big-band staple ever since its debut on this record. It's my introduction to Weather Report, but I've heard the piece Birdland covered time and time again by jazz groups in my hometown. The melody is great, and played with a positive upbeat flourish. Maybe it's a little simple for the genre, but it's still orders of magnitude more interesting than music from the 70s punk movement. Seriously – you can't convince me that the delicate, soft-spoken beauty of the strings and horns in A Remark You Made isn't leagues ahead of the hundreds of low-skill punk imitation bands of 1977. Zawinul? Pastorius? Shorter? These musicians are about as good as they come. The bass (played by Pastorius) has a distinctive springy sound that meshes well with the other instruments. The only knock against this album is the bizarre, out-of-place Rumba Mama. And per my rating system, any albums with even a single "bad" track can't get a perfect rating. Maybe the synths are a little goofy too (see: The Juggler and Havona), but that's a minor complaint. The 80s had it much worse. 4/5 Key tracks: Birdland, A Remark You Made

Loved listening to this back in the day. RIP Jaco.

What even is this album cover? There's a giant hat, a volcano, autumn leaves, lightning, some other stuff I think? I guess that would be pretty heavy weather wouldn't it? Anyway, I liked this album. This was nice and it's right up my alley. We've got a bit of a jazz fusion thing going on here and I love that. The album's mostly instrumental, so I really only have things to say about the compositions and musical talent here, and oh boy is there some musical talent to talk about. As far as I can hear, this entire Weather Report lineup is full of talent, with all 5 members contributing something of value. Of course, I could talk about Wayne Shorter's sax work, or Alex Acuña's drumming, or Manolo Badrena's extra percussion, or especially Joe Zawinul's synth and piano work, but the real star of the show here is, of course, Jaco Pastorius. This man is widely regarded as one of the greatest bassists of all time, and I can hear why. His style is fairly unconventional, but it is so recognizable and cool that you can't help but pay attention to it. Now, this isn't actually my first album that I've gotten from this project to have him on bass, as I did get to hear some of his work on Joni Mitchell's Hejira, but that was basically teaser for what was to come here. Amazing stuff. The compositions themselves are pretty cool, but I do think they blend together a little. Additionally, there isn't really that much of an emotional core to the album, but does there really have to be? To me, Heavy Weather serves as a showcase of some exceptional musical proficiency and that's its appeal to me. I'm not going to go to this album for anything that's super emotional and metaphorical or anything. I'm coming here for some sick-ass jazz fusion pieces, and Heavy Weather is a great source for those. So, yeah, this album is cool. Light 4/5.

7/10

Pretty cool jazz album. Rumba Mama was a surprise after lots of instrumental jazz.

Beeeeautiful

I really enjoyed this!

This was not at all what I was expecting. I absolutely loved the sound and the ambience it created. I would give it a 4.5, but I'll bump it down to 4 for no real reason.

I recognized Birdland right off the bat. When I went to King Gizzard's Field of Vision festival in Buena Vista, Colorado, they had a lot of bands there performing. One of the bands was the Buena Vista High School Jazz Band and we decided to go check it out. We were pleasantly surprised that their jazz band was quite good. One of the songs they played while we laid on the grass in the summer sun was Birdland and it made me feel good. This was a pleasant jazz fusion record and it started my Monday off just right.

Electronic jazz goes bleep bloop.

I’ve been on a weird run of albums, 6 straight from the mid/late 70’s including this one. None of them have been that great, to be honest. This isn’t amazing either but it’s way better than the others I have recently had (aside from the Jeff Buckley album I got). There’s a lot here and they are tight as a unit. I’ve grown over the years to appreciate jazz much more, and we can add this album to the pile. 4-stars

I was only familiar with the track "Birdland" prior to today's undertaking, which I very much enjoy, but I've never got round to checking this album out. I'm glad that opportunity has come around today, as this is such a radiant, joyful experience all the way through. An album such as this doesn't need vocals to ingrain its catchy sensibilities into you - everything from the electric piano, synthesisers, bass, saxophone, conga drums and even the hand clapping, are transcendent and each possess their own unique abilities to worm their way into your ears. You're consistently left intrigued as to the direction of travel, whilst the songs remain anchored to a central idea and don't ever exude any self-indulgence as can be an issue with some jazz fusion. Everything on here feels vital and like it has a purpose. I'll be purchasing this.

Having never heard a Weather Report album before I was concerned that it would be another one of those undecipherable jazz fusion albums of which I detest. It was not. The first four songs were melodic and comforting. It was when Rumba Mama played that things got a bit sketchy. Both that song and The Juggler annoyed me greatly but it was quickly followed up by a soothing Havana. Weather Report now has a new fan.

do you ever meet someone and think wow i bet you have cool parents, can you introduce me to your parents?? that's me with this album. I want to see songs that sampled this album, but this album could die in a ditch and I wouldn't care.

This was nice to have in the background. Good energy.

Very jazzy, good instrumentals. The weather fit the mood listening to this record, driving thru a snowstorm in the country definitely made it a more intense listening experience.

Really enjoyed a jazz album!

Sounded really nice, fun and fast in places, didn't drag, on the shorter side as far as jazz albums go. Very nice.

so many bangers

Birdland is a great groove to start the album. It slows a bit after that, but this is a great jazz fusion album.

78/100. Really enjoyable jazz fusion with some subtle world music touches. I always find jazz hard to put into words, it’s more of a feeling than anything. This record felt tight and structured, yet still had enough experimental flair to keep things exciting. Not too out there, just really solid stuff all around.

Lot of better jazz but this is still good

This was very fun! Very cinematic, cheery, just all around good vibes.

Ooh yeah, I love Wii Sports!!

jazzy as hell

Good jazz fusion album. It’s quick. Sometimes feels like it’s Weather Channel. However, I’m always looking for ways to branch out into the jazz style.

"This sounds like an 80s sit-com theme song!" cries the reviewer, unaware this was released in 1977. This is about as easily listenable as the genre can be and that's NOT a bad thing, and I definitely can't complain about the things that come after when gentle jazz fusion is so recognisable because it's so easy to take in! I generally like my jazz a little faster, something akin to an almost funky flare, there's no doubt this album is masterful fun and almost like the feeling of sitting down and knowing you don't have to get up again for a while. Best song: Birdland Worst song: N/A Rank compared to everything else so far: 4/8

I must start this review by saying I absolutely love Fusion music. Specifically Jazz Fusion. I’m unfamiliar with Weather Report and didn’t like the few tracks I heard. However, this project being about the entire album allows me to digest the band in a more complete way. I feel fortunate to have this album be the first WP album that I’ve listened to. My limited knowledge about the band did lead me to think this had to be a Jaco album, which it is. I’m more familiar with Wayne Shorters solo jazz, but he shines here just the same. I look forward to hearing more of the keyboardist Joe Zawinul. Cool album, great discovery. Would buy on wax and will continue to research this band and dive deeper.

I quite liked this.

Nice and short, very enjoyable jazz with a little fusion. Definitely will listen to it more often. Loved it.

Hadn't had a jazz album in quite some time until this one popped up. It sounds very optimistic (especially Birdland) and bright and luscious. Like a lot jazz music, it makes me feel like I'm in a mafia-filled bar with the sound of glasses clanking together. Highlight Song/s: Birdland

Jazz, tolles Bassspiel (Jaco Pastorius), afrikanische Einflüsse

Oh, yeah, this album cover. I've seen it before. I can't remember exactly where (maybe in this book of album covers I have, I'unno), but I know this is not the first time I've laid eyes on it. Though it **is** only the first time I've ever found out what genre this thing was — and if you were to ask me to judge a book by its cover, I don't think I ever would have guessed **jazz fusion**. Like, huh — so it is. I find myself not terribly a stranger to jazz fusion. After all, I've heard Frank Zappa's three contributions to the genre ('Hot Rats', 'Waka/Jawaka' and 'The Grand Wazoo'), and I've enjoyed them immensively. If I can handle those, I can take on anything this genre can throw at me. Like, come on — what could this thing possibly do to knock me off my axis, huh? The keys. Goodness me, the keys — and the **synths**. Like ... oh, wowie me, there were times on here I honestly had to step back and remind myself that I was supposed to be listening to jazz. The synths and keys on here are nuts. I mean, don't get me wrong, they're not **that** overpowering; you still get a lot of room for the bass and the horns. I just didn't expect them to sound as ... well, cheesy as they did? And even acknowledging that there are cheesier out there, goodness me, this is some **cheese**, for sure. Which, let me clear — I **like** that they're cheesy. With as much cheese as I've eaten, it'd be weird if I **didn't** like how cheesy they were. It really made me enjoy the album a whole lot more, and I already liked it a whole lot. There's such a pep and a brightness to the whole thing, that, ah, even taking it as background music (which is never a bad thing, in my eyes), I found it so undeniable. I mean, I'll say that I don't think it gets much better than the first track. Every other song here is pretty good, but track one exists on a whole 'nother level. Scale-wise, it feels so much bigger than everything else here. Heck, it was big enough that it was the one song on here that I couldn't let it fall into the background. It's legit! No foolin'! Especially the bass, if I hadda single out one instrument besides the keys. That is some **good-ass** bass, goodness. I hear this guy was called the Eddie Van Halen of bass? Mm, I guess I can hear a good reason or so why. And, yeah, that's about the size of my thoughts on this album. Real good jazz fusion where I didn't expect to hear it. I don't have any real complaints other than the fact that "Rumba Mania"'s recording quality sounds a little weird ... but, yeah, I'unno. I give it a hearty recommendation for any jazz fusion fan. Or fans of cheesy synths — 90% chance of **those** in the forecast, goodness.

I was looking forward to this because Birdland is awesome! I didn't realise Jaco Pastorius was in Weather Report! That's also awesome! I felt Palladíum was another highlight. Rumba Mama kinda broke the flow of the album, but I guess it wouldn't be as bad on the record version.

Great jazz music!

new fave

Growing up, we had Domino Theory by Weather Report, so I have an idea of what to expect. Birdland - 8/10. Pretty solid "new-wave" Jazz. I think I may have heard Manhattan Transfer doing this song before. I like it. A Remark You Made - 8/10. Smooth and silky Jazz. But what do you expect from Jaco Pistorius? Teen Town - 7/10. Good late 70's/early 80's Jazz style. Harlequin - 7/10. Really smooth. I dont like the synth as much, though. Rumba Mama - 4/10. Not something I cared for. Palladium - 7/10. This is more like it. The Juggler - 8/10. Good late 70's/early 80's Jazz style. Havona - 9/10. Very good, especially Jaco Pistorius on the bass. I think this is the best track on the album. Overall Rating - 3.63/5 (7.25/10). Really good Jazz Fusion.

Another classic jazz album. My brother really likes them, and I'm starting to agree. Plus this has "Birdland" which is always a good listen.

This some jazzy shit

Jaco!!

****A great album, easy listening. Totally enjoyed

Pretty intense album which doesn't make for casual listening but lots of interesting sounds and rhythms which deserve repeat listens.

Ca groove ! Très très cool

WOAH. ecco, questo è il jazz che mi piace: contaminato da mille altri generi, ma soprattutto il rock. e poi, soprattutto, Birdland. è la canzone di apertura, e io la conosco da quando sono piccola, perche mio papà mi avrà fatto sentire la versione dei Manhattan Transfer tipo settecentomila volte, e non mi aspettavo proprio di sentire l'originale. i Manhattan Transfer hanno però aggiunto il testo, e non so dirvi quanto, nonostante l'originale sia bella, l'aggiunta delle parole e dei vocalizzi svolti completamente la canzone intera. se vi va di sentire quattro divinità che cantano andatevela a recuperare, ma chapeau ai Weather Report. veramente un album meraviglioso.

Jazzy! Reminded me of late 70's Joni Mitchell and sure enough, she used most of this band on a few of her albums. Pretty mellow but still very interesting.

Jazz daora, gostei, muita diversidade e bem fora da caixinha

I have been trying not to think about production quality too much for these reviews since I feel like it's not fair to older albums that don't get remasters and also I'm very picky about it to an obnoxious degree. That being said, this album just sounds absolutely gorgeous. The layers upon layers of instruments and details is phenomenal. Mr. Weather Report can play a bass like it's nobody's business. I had never listened to a Weather Report song, let alone an album. I knew it best as a JoJo reference. While I had to pause the album quite a bit and then come back to it throughout the day (something I normally try to avoid doing for our albums of the day), every time it came back on I was having a good time. This might be one that I throw on when I really need to focus on work or when I just want something instrumental. Definitely a surprise for me.

What a surprise. I didn’t really give this one a chance at first, but eventually we were groovin, driving around and imagining myself on the case with my grizzled detective partner one day from retirement before his local nemesis rears his ugly head, presenting my partner with a no win scenario: take down his sworn nemesis or spend time with his family.

5 stars for Jaco alone? Let’s see. 1.50 into Birdland and there is sooo much to take in. The sounds out of the synth, bass, is that a guitar sound, a modified bass sound, is that some harmonics out of the bass, the playing! Second track not so interesting. I found Shorter’s sax a bit boring and it is the main focus for much of the song but it doea build and ends with some great soloing by the keyboardist over some incredible bass chords. Next track kicks it up a gear and back to so much happening. Then Harlequin pulls it back down but some beautiful drumming and bass through this. Rumba mumba to mix it up! Okay. Palladium for something a bit more funly. This album is all over the place. I cant decide if it ties together regardless or cant decide what it wants to be and should have been released as singles. Where or what is Lebowski’s rug in all of this? I think it is the dynamics between the keyboard and the bass. Yeah bit all over but hard not to rate highly due to the quality of the players.

I've never listened to this album (44). Solid AF. Jaco was a menace.

This sounds like it's straight out of a 90s ps1 skiing game

The jump from fusion to smooth jazz is a remarkably small one but this is an example of where that smoothness associated with fusion is beneficial with a little bit of funkiness underneath

I was vibing so hard to this album that I kept listening for an extra half an hour even though it already finished.

The only thing wrong with this album, is that it's too short! Add to my score a 0.5, because this SLAPS!!!

Pretty approachable for a jazz album

Great bass in this jazzy jam

Really enjoyed it

Electronic Jazz Fusion. 4/5

I was hesitant to give this one 4 stars since I literally just gave the same rating to Bayou Country, but halfway through the opening track I caught myself nodding along. This album is weird in a good way, the kind of record that surprises you with how much it grows on you. The mix of jazz, funk, and rock elements gives it a cool, unpredictable energy. It’s a fusion record that actually feels like a fusion instead of just showing off technical skill. Every instrument has room to breathe, and the groove never really lets up once it kicks in. Overall, Heavy Weather turned out to be a really fun listen. It’s experimental without being inaccessible, and it’s got enough rhythm and personality to pull you in even if jazz isn’t your usual go-to.

Fretless

Essentially a jazz fusion supergroup. They're all shit hot players and you've just got to sit back and enjoy it. It's not as far out or complex as some fusion can be and that's probably what made it so popular. You can clean your glasses while nodding your head (on or off beat). Best Tracks: Birdland; Teen Town; Palladium

Fun and upbeat, this was really good! 4/5 would listen again

Jaco still the goat.

as far as jazz goes, pretty good

I really enjoyed this! I admit I initially judged it based on the look of the cover and the name "Weather Report". I cringed, thinking this would be folk hippie tripe similar to Fairport Convention or The Incredible String Band (vomit!!), but my oh my, was I pleasantly surprised at this delectable collection of jazz fusion. Birdland is a fantastic piece and made its way straight onto my playlist of faves. I will research more of their work for sure. A happy new discovery.

Fahrstuhlmusik, chillig

A lovely jazz album.

First thing Hays said when they heard this was, "what sitcom is this from?" This album sounds like it had a huge influence on culture at large. 1977 version of chill beats to study and relax to. Very cool and easy to listen to. Loved it!

Nice. Just music which took me by suprise

Smooth, easy listening that grow into slight earworms. And also a little bizarre... ゴゴゴゴ

I'll always enjoy hearing Jaco smoothly rip it up on the bass.

lindo jazz

An early jazz album for me which was super accessible since it leans more into fusion. Really good to come back to (3.5/5)

Jazz is definitely not a genre I'm familiar with but this was nice to leave on and just vibe to. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would; pleasant to listen to without being too boring. The incorporation of different instrumentals (flute, synths) keeps this fresh the whole way through. I love the atmosphere of this. Heavy Weather would be good music to have on in the background, and I don't mean that in a derisive way.

with this album i discovered a new kind of jazz (rock jazz) I never heard something like this and I quite enjoyed it.

I always feel bad for people that can’t listen to instrumental music/albums because they’re “boring”. This FUCKS

Solid instrumental album, reminded me of plantasia. Great music for deep focus. 7/10

Damn, "Birdland" is awesome. I'm movin'. I didn't take note of too many individual songs, but I loved this. The 'jazz-rock' fusion is definitely more consumable for me than straight jazz most of the time. I loved this record, great jams the whole way through. 8/10

Enjoyable

this was weird and enjoyable

I loved this album! A more introspective Bruce

4 - Fun, funky

this album is so complex and fun - it's a bunch of fantastic jazz musicians who have incredibly capabilities and i thoroughly enjoyed listening to it.

Vaguely familiar with this one. Maximalist Latin Jazz Rock Fusion 𝘎𝘦𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘦𝘥𝘦𝘭. It's cool, but doesn't inspire me to feel, think or write a lot about my impression. Actually, no, wait. Havona is playing right now - the Drum 'n Bass here? 😍 - I might spin this a few more times today. We'll see. Once more "actually, no": Havona is the stand-out track for me, I'm circling back to "It's cool."

jazzy

Seconding Sameen that Wayne Shorter is the goat, that guy RULES!! Also the hat on this cover really reminds me of the hat Tim Robinson wears in the courtroom ITYSL sketch. Very good album, it's very easy listening but deceptively simple, I'd say - a lot going on instrumentally!!

one thing i really appreciate about Wayne Shorter is that he was maybe the most dynamic of all the 60s titans of jazz. the fact that he spent his 70s and 80s basically playing in bands and making albums with joni mitchell is so cool to me. i actually had never heard of weather report but it kinda blows my mind that Shorter and Jaco Pastorius were in a jazz rock band and it kinda upsets me that i didnt already know about it!!!! anyways i am slowly starting to make a mental case for Shorter being the goat ...

really nice

'Birdland' takes me back to my earliest introductions to jazz when I joined the high school "jazz" band as a reluctant bass player. We managed to perform a simplified score of 'Birdland' that I remember fondly. Nearly twenty years later, I've since become an active performer, regularly gigging out on most weekends. And most of the time, bass is the instrument I'm hired to play. I wonder how my life would be different if it weren't for 'Birdland' and jazz band bass, my whole inadvertent introduction to it all? I remember really disliking this record during my high school times due to its plasticky perfection, but I view it now with much more appreciation for its restrained and tasteful arrangements. The sound is pristine. Pastorius took his own instrument to a new level. I only fault the record for its faulty flow--the random 'Rumba Mama' really kills the continuity for me. Why put a live track on a studio album? Ach.

This is #day345 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… it’s been raining here for the past couple of days. I honestly don't remember so much rain in July, and judging by the forecast, it's going to stay this way until the end of the month. But I don't mind, as long as it's not hurting the planet. Anyway, I've seen this band's name pop up a lot among vinyl collectors, and now I kind of understand why. This record begs to be experienced on vinyl. It's very musical: spacey, textured, jazz-rock, or so they say. Definitely one for audiophiles. But I'm all for it. "A Remark You Made" is especially enjoyable. This is a 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day346.

Jazz, but make it 80s movie. I think it's the maracas and definitely the saxophone.

Ok sheesh! Jazz fusion is on this list?? Of course I already had heard birdland, but super cool to hear the other tracks on this album. Such a cool vibe and style. Weather report does such a good job making an engaging and cohesive Freeform sound. I almost want to give 5 stars, but I think I’ll settle with 4.

4.5/5

The version of Birdland is great, and Jacob's bass is incredible, but it does feel quite safe.

Great album, lots of energetic jazz-rock

Thankfully this is only 37 minutes. It's a bit boring if I'm honest.

Nice easy listening jazz.

Another album from my youth. Gotta love a bit of jazz fusion!

Jazz Fusion bought us some odd albums. This one sometimes seems to make fun of the genre by being not too weird but relies on well crafted "When does my fellow musician comes in?" moments. It's good but nothing you put on too often I find.

Surprised to see Jaco and Wayne were in a group together, I had no idea. I listened to it a couple times and enjoyed it. I liked some tracks more than others, but might seek out again on my own even though not my fav type of jazz.

I was previously familiar with Birdland from this album. Given what I know from that track, this album is pretty much what I expected. It's really good jazz fusion. My favorite track is probably A Remark You Made but it's solid front to back. Would listen again.

Spacey big band kinda vibe. No music, give like a 60s space age kinda vibe. Not necessarily a happy vibe, but mysterious

Thoughts before listening: I love any album with Jaco Pastorius on it. Weather Report is 70s jazz fusion with all players being the top of their game, but as a teenager trying to learn to play the bass, Jaco was considered one of the best. I owned at least one Weather Report cd back in the day which I believe was a best of compilation, so while I may not know this whole album I suspect I will recognize some songs. Review: Oh ok...so this starts out with "Birdland" which is one of the band's best songs and definitely their most well known. Potentially its just being a victim of the times, but Weather Report in general can slide into easy listening/new age music territory at times. Their music is very polished and there is a certain synthesizer vibe at all times that can come off as cheesy at times. That being said, the band is all very accomplished musicians with Jaco being the best. His fluid style of bass playing with lines dancing around the melody is very distinctive within their sound and was a huge influence on countless musicians since his time. This is a 4-star album.

Very fun jazz album, it reminds me a lot of witches brew for some reason

An excellent bass album, to be sure. That Rumba Mama song in the middle kinda kills the momentum. Excellent instrumentation with the sax, bass, and keys all playing together nicely.

Intriguing. Never heard of this, but the description makes it sound pretty interesting. The jazz records I've gotten on this generator so far have all been pretty stellar, so I'm hoping that this one is of similar quality. I have no idea what to expect from this, just crossing my fingers for a good time. Birdland Love the opening guitar sequence. The bass on this song is pretty magnetic. A very melodic and approachable arrangement. Decent groove, very stimulating. Fresh and fun piece of jazz fusion. Love the way it ends. Great. 4.5/5 A Remark You Made The echoey delay makes for a slow and soothing atmosphere. The bass tone really integrates itself nicely with said atmosphere. Love the duetting with the sax. Extremely smooth and pleasant, gives of serious summer evening energy. Oh that keyboard part is magical. Great. 4.5/5 Teen Town The bass playing on this album so far has been nothing short of incredible, this track included. Love the tempo on the cymbals. That was sick. Great. 4.5/5 Harlequin Very interesting keyboard playing. Love how it interplays with the bass and the background piano. That drum breakdown at the end is absolutely stunning. Good. 4/5 Rumba Mama That opening vocal is absolutely insane, so much energy and spirit. Amazing percussion. A great rhythmic experience with blazing energy and fun atmosphere. Good. 4/5 Palladium Comes right out the gate with a great funky groove. Amazing instrumental interplay. Love how synergistic everything is while sounding technical and colourful at the same time. Energetic, complicated and deep, yet really approachable and simple to listen to. Each instrument delivers its own infectious part. Fantastic. 5/5 The Juggler Very dreamy and pleasant. Almost sounds like a whismical new world at times. Especially with that cute keyboard part. Very sweet, fun and pleasant to the ears. Feels experimental. Good. 4/5 Havona Yet again another amazing bass track. He plays with such bounce and fluidity that he makes the hard parts sound effortless. Would also like to shout out the drummer for somehow being just as impressive. Love the part where the piano just goes insane in tandem with the bass. Strong ending. Good. 4/5 Whenever you get a star studded lineup such as this there's always the fear that there will be some clashing of egoes. This usually either leads to synergy issues, or that the band simply fails to get the best out of each member. This is clearly not the case here. This is air tight, it's fast, it's fun and it has infectious parts from everyone involved. Importantly, it's also very accessible, serving as a great entry point to the genre without sacrificing the integrity of the performers behind it. Looking at other reviews of this, the negative reviews mostly come from two camps: Hardcore jazz fans and people who hate jazz. And sure it's not as challenging and emotional as masterworks produced by the greats. However this thing is always gonna be approachable to casuals, which might lead to them developing an interest for the genre. It shows of the talents of amazing instrumentalists such as Jaco Pastorius or Joe Zawinul and gives people a snippet of what such masters can do when they work together. Bouncy rhythms, funky basslines and smooth sax parts, littered with eclectic keyboard playing which sprinkles in a bit of magic on the recording. This makes for a charming, slightly cheesy album which never takes itself too seriously. A solid listen for when you just want a fun, free flowing experience. Or a great springboard to use for delving into several musical rabbitholes, following the people that made it. A simple highlight of this is the bass playing, which myself and others alike have pointed out as quite a marvelous ordeal. If some funky, rhythmic and effortless sounding bass parts is something you're into, then perhaps it's worth checking out just for that. 4/5

At first I was kinda like - what the heck is this? - but then I settled in and really enjoyed it. Funk, jazz, I hear city pop, at points I even hear 90s video game music. Not surprised this is a group of super solid professionals. Just a fun, easy listen. I’d listen to more of this group! 500 albums down!!

Parts of this are unbelievably fun and funky, other parts are real lame and cheesy. A real fine balance was to be had in the 1970s

The weather was exactly the amount of jazzy reported. Astounding!

Kind of interesting how the tone shifts from song to song. Some tracks with sci-fi atmospheric vibes, others afro Caribbean, but everything is fun and somehow flows together well. Listened to the extended version which has live songs as well which are enjoyable. Don't think there was a single song that dragged, an excellent album.

I might listen to this album again for some incredible bass lines. By the way, this was my first introduction to Jaco Pastorius' work. Anyway, jazz fusion is always a great way to go :)

Jojo's reference? It's a decent album. 3.5/5

4-

far from groundbreaking as far as jazz goes, but it’s an enjoyable listen

3.5 - Good

BIAS ALERT: I love this album. My dad is a bass player, and is a big fan of Victor Wooten and Jaco Pastorius, so I listened to this album and Bela Fleck and the Flecktones a bunch growing up. I think my nostalgia holds this album up a little higher than it deserves, just in that it's not as great as I remember it being. It is still very good, but I thought this would be an easy 5/5. The solos are incredible. I love when all the instruments lock in with each other. And the bass playing is just sick as fuck. I think for the purposes of this list, you can probably skip any extended version nonsense at the end of the album (unless you truly really love those songs). Favorite Song(s): Birdland, Teen Town

I knew of Jaco, but I never explored the WR catalog...

Heavy Weather might be one of the most unique jazz albums on this list. This album is like Weather Report couldn't keep still! The genre was jazz, but it could be smooth or playful or loud, nothing like how jazz typically is. At times, the album sounded jumbled, but I didn't mind it too much when the output was inventive and fun. Truth be told, my favorite song was "A Remark You Made," which is probably the most basic jazz song on the album, but I don't mind. I'm just really glad I listened to this.

Excellent variety of jazz

Breezy Jazz fusion. Sometimes funky, always cool.

"Weather Report rewrote the rules of jazz with Heavy Weather." https://open.substack.com/pub/richcain/p/project-1001-heavy-weather-by-weather?r=4ztyq&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false

Very good, tremendous playing especially by Jaco Pastorius the bassist. Everyone is top notch and they are all in the pocket with each other. You can just single out each member and focus on their individual playing. At the same time, the album is cool and kind of relaxing. Puts me in an good mood. Will listen again! 4/5

they made a music step ahead

Jazz Fusion is always a good choice. This feels a tiny bit dated and you can tell it's from the 70s but it's still really good.

Muy relajante, pero pensé que me iba a gustar mucho más de lo que me gustó. No me parece especialmente memorable. Puede ir muy duro para leer.

first time listening to weather report gotta say i'm pleased. love the jazz love the fusion love the everything. not a five out of five but pretty damn good. i enjoyed each song and this is definitely going on my main.

4/5. Despite the title, a lot of the songs on here are mostly pretty chill and relaxing. There are a few that stand out, especially the opening track, which is a classic by itself, as well as others that keep that heaviness they are referring to. The album as a whole definitely has some great work from the bassist which at first I thought was some sort of synthesizer with how prominent it carries the music here. The melody is up front but the bass is moving it forward, along with the percussion. I don't think I would be down with this album all the time but it's definitely a wonderful listen front to back. Best Song: Birdland, Havona, Harlequin

A delightful jazz album.

Jak jakaś postać w Jojo nazywa się jak artysta to zwykle jest dobra fazka.

A decent work listen because it involves no real thinking or words, just letting the smooth smooth jazz hit you. Almost a 5?

Really straddles the line between competent fusion and cheesy cliche Jazz. It has a lot of moments of brilliant playing, especially Jaco Pastorius his bass playing shines here. However, there's a few moments where it sounds a bit cheesy, perhaps because of its influence. I found this to have a lot of variety as well. Rumba Mama sounds very different from the phenomenal Birdland sounds different from the other songs on here.

Bass is killer all over this. I don't usually do any research until after I write a review but i had to figure out who this was. Go figure it's Jaco, probably the best player that's not Victor Wooten or Bootsy. Some of the songs felt like 80s TV Theme songs, some felt like it was smooth jazz or something almost like fast smooth jazz... is that a thing? Bass, horns and keys/synth all get ample time to shine. Mood shifts in songs all work really well and keep things moving pretty quickly. I didn't want it to end.

Fun little funky jazz group.

Perfect for eating fried snail

Egentligen tycker jag nog att weather report är lite överskattade men när de är som bäst så är det riktigt bra, och när Jaco drar iväg på någon sjuk slinga så är det svårt att inte dra på sig ett leende. En svag 4a.

Not often does the bass player get all the praise—unless that bass player is John Francis Anthony Pastorius III. Birdland and Havona are the absolute standouts, with a few other solid tracks as well. However, A Remark You Made is the weak link—especially following Birdland, it completely kills the momentum of the album. Because of that, I can only give it four stars

Really enjoyed this

This was a very enjoyable smooth jazz album with a significant up tempo. One exception is "Rumba mamba", which came out of left field and I did not enjoy it.

Every bassist worth their salt knows the name Jaco Pastorius. Bold as brass, Jaco wielded a fretless electric bass and honored the stylings of funk and jazz in his impeccable technique. With Weather Report, they play sleek and impressive jazz-fusion that was immensely expressive at every turn. Not only a pleasant listen, Heavy Weather is technical and challenging in ways that impress the frontiers of jazz in a post-Bitches Brew world.

Already played

This album is cheesy, sure. But you know what? I like it. It's nostalgic. No regrets lol, f the haters.

did not expect to like this as much as I did

Woah! Wild jazz alert. What a fun album. Technically astounding with the instrumentation. I'm not a jazz expert, but I really enjoyed the fusion across genres and specifically the musicianship. That bass player, whoa!

3.7 Quite enjoyed that, most likely because it seems like they inspired one of my favourite artists, Squarepusher. So many moments on there sounded identical to something off hard normal daddy. Nice but of jazz funk. Only weak spot was the Rumba song but it was over before it began.