Reviews (page 5 of 7)
Every time I get a jazz album I think this'll be the one where the genre clicks. This was not that album. Reminds me of some of the Zappa jazz shit that I like, but ultimately this is just not doing it for me.
Really good (hard?) jazz. Any band that communicates well while riffing gets my vote. 3.3
Ihan hilpeetä menoa. Loppua kohden alkoi puuduttamaan.
Jazz..for the masses. 80s motif, sounds like it should be a movie soundtrack, incredibly listenable. So does jazz have to be challenging? Is this a copout? Dunno but I liked it.
Birdland is good. The rest of the album is just a melange of unmemorable 70's jazz-fusion.
Great instrumentals!
I did enjoy this to a point, but I'm not taking anything away with me. It was generally solid background jazz. And I do dig the cover art.
Well this is a surprise! The second track reminded me of the suspense part of a muppets movie. And it just got a bit funkier from there! So happy to know this!
It was fine
This album didn't really speak to me. I didn't hate any of it, but none of the songs stood out. We've had several jazz albums in the past few weeks and this one felt the least original and inspired of the lot. I'm sure the musicians are talented, but I wasn't wowed by any of the solos.
The Mario Kart soundtrack is a better jazz fusion record. No shade on this one either
Never heard of these guys. Don't even know what to expect here. Didn't get around to listening to this today. Just hearing the first song now. I'll have to finish it tomorrow. This first song called Birdland is pretty cool. It's the track with the most listens. 18.4 million as of today. So I guess the rest will be less than? lol. So far it's pretty cool though. The song seems to tell a story. It's cinematic. Like it could be the soundtrack to a scene in a movie. It's jazzy, reminds me of new york. Kind of interesting to have a synth playing along with all the other traditional jazz instruments. I'll finish listening tomorrow.
It was fine, but not worth a spot as an album you must hear before you die. A decent background album while having breakfast this morning
While I admire the technical prowess, this record never has made it to me. It feels an exercise in musical theory.
Like an 80s Vulfpeck. Very tight jazz with some synth beats worked in. I certainly enjoyed it when it hit its stride and the horns come in. The bongos and drums were always keeping things alive. Sometimes the music got a little too ambitious, but otherwise I liked what I liked, and tolerated the rest.
Birdland has been a favorite song of mine since hearing it in middle school band class.
Props for one of the coolest album covers on the list! The actual music felt very 80s, even though it's from '77. For some reason it feels like a movie soundtrack to some detective show. Shaft comes to mind for some reason. Quite interesting in general though, but nothing that I will really come back to realistically.
Best Song: Birdland. What a joyful, upbeat track. Helluva way to kick off the album. Worst Song: The Juggler. Most of the other tracks were so lively, which made this one feel sparse and uninhabited. Overall: Fun, varied, bass-heavy space jazz. I enjoyed this more than I expected, and I can definitely imagine returning to it for some fun, playful background music.
Fine
I don't think I've ever heard of this band before, but I know of Jaco Pastorius from a presentation a classmate of mine gave in my music appreciation class in college. That's a hell of an album cover though, so I'm excited to see what this album has to offer. "Birdland" was a fantastic opening track. I loved the aforementioned Jaco's bassline throughout the song, and the bright tones that were utilized throughout the rest of the song. I loved how the sound evolved over the course of the song, utilizing a wide variety of instruments to develop the bright tone. The next song, “A Remark You Made” was a stark shift in tone, slowing down the tempo and using some deeper tones. While not as fun as “Birdland,” it was a nice listen, and I liked the fluttering synthesizers that came in later. The rest of the album was fine, but “Birdland” was easily the high point for me. Jaco’s bass playing was my favorite part of the arrangements, and the album really succeeded in those moments when it felt like the bass was in the driver’s seat. “Rumba Mama” was my least favorite part of the album. I felt like its sound stuck out like a sore thumb, and I was glad that it was the shortest track on the album. This album didn’t really set the world on fire for me, but it was certainly unique and interesting. This album utilized a unique fusion of sounds, and it gave me a greater appreciation for how diverse jazz can be.
Grew up listening to Manhattan Transfer, so some of the tracks (especially Birdland) brought me to a happy place.
Well, this is certainly jazz.
I'm not a big jazz fan but I do like some of the fusion style music. This is a great example of that. Much more accessible although I'm sure some jazz diehards wouldn't even consider it to be true jazz. The live song felt a little out of place but the rest makes good background music.
Decent jazz / fusion album. Didn’t realise that Palladium by Yesterday’s New Quintet was a cover version until I heard this record, so I’m guessing Madlib is a fan.
Fun jazz rock album
Well, this is properly odd, isn't it? I can't help but view it through the lens of vaporwave, which I'm very surprised no-one else in the reviews has mentioned, because it sounds _extremely_ vaporwavey - but this came out in 1977, so I guess this is actually one of the origins of vaporwave?! It's a bemusing 38 minutes - definitely not actively horrible, but nothing for me to get fired up over either. A benchmark 3, I guess! Fave track - uhhhhhhhhh - let's say "Birdland" for kicking things off!
Vähän futuristisen kuuloista jazzia. Siistiä teknistä tiluttamista. Parhaat: A Remark You Made, Havona
Birdland is a great track, but the rest does nothing for me. Outstanding musicianship but not for me 3/5
Funky Entspannend
Funky jazz, enjoyed the start and the end, middle was pretty technical and jazz-wanky
Perfectly good and interesting jazz. More than one listen would be needed to appreciate it. Reckon I will.
Really great structure and musicianship. Not sure if I'll return to this one though.
Very hard to rate. It's just not really my music.
Good musicianship and an overall not bad album, though it's dinner jazz music - the question is, there are hundred albums that are better in jazz than this one, so why was this chosen for the list?
I didn't detest this, but it felt like something was missing, like the music was almost too lightweight for its own good. It never really went anywhere, just background music that was pleasing but nothing exciting about it in the slightest. I was thinking 2 stars, but it's not really bad, just bland, so 3 stars it will be.
Some if it is fun and comforting, some of it makes me nervous
Groovy and a bit of swank. Mostly solid but average to my ears. 3.5
6/10 Highlights: Birdland
I think this album helped invent the phrase, "slap-a-da-bass." Damn! There is some very fine musicianship present on this album. One thing that sticks out to me that makes this album so unique are the weirdy catchy jazz synths in songs like Teen Town. Quirky, retro, and very interesting. As far as jazz goes (I'm not a discerning jazz fan) this is probably some of the best I have heard. Would I go seek this out and re-listen many times over? Likely not, but I absolutely get why it's on this list and I'm glad I listened to it. Interesting Factoids from Wikipedia: *The release sold about 500,000 copies; it would prove to be the band's most commercially successful album and one of the best sellers in the Columbia jazz catalog. *The album opens with "Birdland", which on its own became a significant commercial success, unusual for an instrumental composition, and would go on to become a jazz standard...(and) is a jazz/pop song written...as a tribute to the Birdland nightclub in New York City. *(Weather Report founder and keyboardist) Joe Zawinul used the latest developments in synthesizer technology, and he took advantage of a large variety of sounds and tone colors to make the band stand out. During the first half of their career, Weather Report were seen as one of the defining acts in modern jazz, winning the DownBeat "best album award" five times in a row. Standout Tracks: Birdland, A Remark You Made, Teen Town, Palladium
Very easy listening, but ultimately completely forgettable.
Birdland and Teen Town are great tracks.
Fine as background music, but I wanted more from it. Just about scrapes a 3.
Jazzzzz
Funkyjazz. Reminded me of every sound track to an 80s american sitcom or b movie.
This sort of jazz has its place. Unfortunately, that place is most often a dentist’s office. It’s technically well done, but definitely not the best example of jazz.
Bit dull
I’m not a sophisticated jazz listener, but I’m assuming what my ears are hearing is the most reviled jazz subgenre, 70’s prog jazz fusion? It didn’t upset me, but it didn’t excite me either. Props to them for going balls to the wall on the album artwork and concept though. It’s both startlingly literal and insanely absurd at the same time.
So this is where Birdland comes from. Otherwise, it sounds like a forgotten 70’s or 80’s film score. Unnecessary.
Loved the first song, the rest was ok
Well I definitely think they chose the right band name. Evokes memories of watching the Weather Channel in the 90s or going to Arby's with your grandparents. I'm so confused with this album though because I kind of dug it. Like I'm never going to listen to it ever again but it wasn't bad. 5/10 (2.5/5)
I’ll just copy+paste my thoughts from another thread: “I had a weird experience with Weather Report, where my estimation of the album declined in retrospect: I listened to it on Spotify, and liked it well enough, but was surprised it was such a long album, so I checked how much was left- it had ended eight songs ago! Spotify had started an automatic playlist of similar songs. So similar, in fact, that I couldn’t tell any of the artists apart. I don’t know if this is a Seinfeld situation, where Weather Report sounds generic because they had massive influence, but realizing that half the songs I liked weren’t even Weather Report- and I couldn’t tell the difference- made me judge it a little bit harder.”
Very nice jazz fusion album. Will play again when I need to chill alone with a cocktail. That’s the vibe.
middle of the road, nothing too special but nothing crazy
Enjoyable bass and drums
By the standards of its day this LP may have been interesting (although I would argue that much free jazz and even conventional jazz, as well as movements overseas in Japan, South America, etc. were more exciting even at the time), but listening now this project is rather dull, unexciting and inoffensive. The musicianship is competent (especially the drumming and bass work), but largely this LP would work swimmingly as background music for a weather report (no pun intended). Fairly forgettable fare, but not bad or incompetent.
Good ol' jazz album, I'm still not a massive jazz enjoyer so the finer points of whether or not this is good will have gone straight over my head but I did quite enjoy listening to it
It’s like a pop band was tasked with making elevator music. Sometimes it sounds like the instruments are “singing,” which was a neat effect. Not sure why it’s on the list, but there’s definitely talent there.
Not fond of fusion, good though I guess
Inbetween tracks to the sitcom of my life
Once again I experienced my usual boredom when listening to instrumental albums. I'm aware that needs to change, and this was pretty groovy, but I still couldn't pay attention.
When I imagine what jazz-fusion rock sounds like, it's pretty much this album. It has a 70's/80's TV soundtrack vibe to it and though it's enthusiastic and high energy I can't get past this in my mind. At times, it has that schmaltzy saxophone sound (A Remark You Made) that nobody loves and reminded me of a mellow Dire Straits track I can't remember the title to. The bass playing is top notch and the musicianship in general is quite good, but this seems to be more of a fun, background music listen for me, that I did enjoy.
I didn't hate it but not in any rush to listen again.
Pleasant listen for this listener
There are some cool moments, but this album tends to meander and show its age. It veers dangerously close to easy listening for me. Fav Tracks: A Remark You Made, Teen Town, Havona Least Fav Track: Rumba Mama 5/10
Never have been a fan of Jazz Fusion. While this is a fine expression of the genre, I just can't take this much soprano sax. Wayne Shorter is a master of the instrument, I just don't like the instrument. Likely, the ubiquitous Kenny G has ruined it for me forever.
This was a nice easy listen. Didn't really stand out though.
Didn’t listen to all the live ones. Birdland is such a classic, I used to listen to that for Jaco all the time in my jazz band days. The rest was alright but it could’ve been shorter. 6.5/10
Was alright but I don’t really care for this style of music 5/10
2/13/24. Really solid jazz fusion instrumentals. These are songs that can carry themselves without lead vocals, and deliver fun jams. While flowing into each other nicely, each song sounds unique.
Nice jazz album
Part TV show theme songs, part Kenny G, part Steely Dan, and some other random stuff. I really don't know what to give this. A 3/5 I guess?
A fine jazz collection. Perfect for a Sunday afternoon.
сначала больше понравилось, потом быстро надоело (
It’s going to make any I-hate-jazz people a convert. If you like it, you’ll like it it, but if not it’s some tough sledding.
Fun tunes
It’s pretty ok
Almost good, but a bit to "funny"
Cool but not mindblowing
Enjoyed very much. Nice jazz album
I'm taken back to watching Weather Channel local updates on this new fangled thing called cable in 1981. I've never considered fusion a thing to sit and appreciate, but older me thinks Weather Report is a very palatable presentation. I might open to this just yet. And yes, Jaco Pastorius just next level on bass.
This is easy background music - pretty neat.
It's nice ambient music, but that'all (to me). I would never properly listen to this, but I'd have it as background for while I waz working etc.
I have complicated feelings about jazz fusion.... at its best it is fun and funky (eg. Headhunters) and Wynton Marsalis _hates_ it (which is a plus in my book), but at its worst.... My mate Dave (hi Dave!) used to work at a music school. He said that the first thing a lot of the students want to do, being bright and shiny 19 year old musicians with pretty good chops, is form a jazz fusion band. They form a band and get their first gig. All their friends and family turn up and say nice things. And then they get a second gig, and it's like a ghost town.... because, let's face it, while musicians like to play this kind of thing, nobody really likes to listen to it. It's often too clever clogs for its own good, and boils down to a form of musical masturbation. At its best, jazz fusion has a good beat that you can dance to, and maybe a tune you can hum. The best jazz fusion albums have that, and I certainly prefer the more groove-oriented records than the overly clever records that rend to disappear up their own backsides (so, more Headhunters or On the Corner than Return to Forever). This record, especially side 1, certainly is great at getting in the pocket and presenting an intriguing melody. Birdland and A Remark You Made are melodically and rhythmically strong, although some tracks, like The Juggler, do tend towards aimless pretention. And let's talk about Jaco Pastorius He really is a driving force on this record. I listened to this through a couple of times, which ten led me to go to his self-titled solo album, which is also amazing. A singular and revolutionary approach to the bass. Melodic, rhythmic, energetic, driving, inventive. It's amazing stuff. Often copied, rarely equaled. So, while I have mixed feelings about jazz fusion, this is squarely in the 'best in class' category for me. Birdland is a dead-set classic track. I might even buy a copy (if I found it in a bargain bin). 3.5 stars
vibey, aber nüt spezielles
Jazz for people that don't like jazz...maybe. Feels a bit bland and dated at times. Amazing bass playing.
This is what your jazz band would play in high school. You'd be interested and like the performance, but you'd genuinely forget about it when you walk out of the auditorium.
•Owned •Haven’t revisited this one in a while so it was nice to sit with it. My brother and I once discussed the brightness of the instrumentation—how the synth/soprano combo could sound tinny in places, and it’s hard to not hear now. Still, love the first three tracks—diverse even for a pretty accessible album. Overall, it’s a great collection of talent, with post–Miles alumni teaming up with the ridiculous Jaco Pastorius, who at times is playing his own tunes over others. •3/5
Niiiiiiiiice. Although I could have done without Rumba Mama, live or otherwise. Best track: Birdland, obvs.
Very easy to listen to/feel good album. Not something I’d ever have chosen to listen to before this generator but I’m glad it came up, I’ll certainly be more open minded towards Jazz having listened to this.
Felt a little bit like hard work - here jazz fusion, respect the culture - but am I enjoying myself? I am not.
Groovy. 3 stars.
was expecting more, great first track but then the album gets a bit messy I think. No consistent theme to it. There was this part with some random shouting? It's rated very highly though and I was listening to it whilst cleaning our greasy ass kitchen so deserves a second listen.
Some nice funky basslines but felt a bit too much like Muzak at many junctures
It's kinda fun although it's not totally up my alley. I think I would enjoy this more live.
Normal.
I had this on vinyl when I was a teenager, decades ago. Still like it.
3.5
sooooo es hards cover ui vlt isches will ich sehr müed aber s ischmer chli zu sanft und schön momentan..bzw. es lauft und finds schön aber nöd meh ok werbeunderbrechig, ich muss chli amity lose, macht wacher als borbone kafi OKKKKKKKKK am nächste morge machts album so richtig spass bass gaht los, drums sind mega villsitig es passiert immer wieder öppis und da passt denn es lied wie rumba mama halt doch na inne am liebste hani glaub teen town und havona trotzdem mussmer natürlich sege, dass ich wenig bezug zu so musig han und vlt wirds mit meh lose besser, doch momentan isches no es guets 3
My high school jazz band played Birdland and, until now, I didn't realize how badly I was screwing up the bass part. :) This is a solid album. I'm bias because it features the bassist pretty heavily (and he happens to be a bad ass). Still - good stuff.
Jazzy
Listened Before? No Fantastic album cover that raises more questions that it could ever hope to answer. From the jump, this is not my favorite style of jazz. Although released in 77 this has a distinctly 80s tone to the composition with heavy appeal to R&B. Palladium jams. I do love the synthwork here. Very 80s in feel, but it adds a certain cheesy sci-fi element that I enjoy. Havona is another jam, though this one is super bass-heavy. Dude is just killing it on the fret. I'm not significantly moved by this album. I can respect that the musicianship is top notch and that the songs, for what they are, are well-done. That said, outside of a few exceptions I really wasn't loving most of this one. The cheese factor was a bit too high for my taste with the first half. Would have preferred to hear the bassist rip like he does on Havona more. Soft 3 / 5 for me. Added to Library? No Songs Added to Playlists:
Great background jazz.
Some good tunes but feels like it drags at times.
not for me
Treads the fine line between good high-production 80s jazz and annoying dissonant 80s jazz. Loved the closing track though.
Upbeat fusions-jazz, coveret beskriver lyden meget godt
I won’t do any research into this, but is Teen Town the song that gave Vulfpeck the inspiration for Dean Town? A mostly bass driven, grooving instrumental? If so, that’s fun. I think this album made a lot of people happy in 77. It is peak jazz fusion. For as dated as that may make it sound (and yes, it is dated), it has a nostalgic feeling to it that makes you feel like you’re watching a gritty cop movie.
Cloudy with a chance of hotel lobby.
Like somewhere between hold music and the Sesame Street theme tune, but good.
This is a groovy sounding Jazz album that reminds me of some of the late 70s early 80s comedy movies with Eddie Murphy. Which is good for that time period but feels pretty dated to listen to now. Not terrible not great and not something you must hear before you die. 2.5 out of 5.
Chill jazz, pretty good.
Not a great start, I was only on track two and waiting for it to be over. The first track seems to be the most popular but I think it sounds like an incredibly dorky 70’s talk show theme and I can’t help but cringe listening to it. However, things get a little more interesting once you slog your way past Birdland. My favourite was probably The Juggler - it sounded like something off of Kate Bush’s Never For Ever, particularly Jaco’s bass slides. Not something I would go out of my way to listen to but it was alright.
Good funk. Some ambient stuff. I liked it! Already had a track from it. Maple got one also for her list.
I want to like it more than I do. It's great for when you are a certain mood. 3/5
D'ya like Jazz?
Enjoyable jazz fusion
Wel Tof, maar ik had er iets meer van verwacht
It was fine
Didn’t love it. Didn’t hate it.
Sì beh
3/8, 38%
Birdsong is a classic but the rest was just ok. I liked the last song or two.
Enjoyed it, nice range of tracks with a few that were particularly captivating. 3.5 Fav track: Palladium
This was a weird one - I found a good bit of it to be pretty insufferable, creating no real particular mood or atmosphere (at least not one I appreciated). But then there's a couple of major bangers, including an all time classic. So two and a half? Fave track: Havona
A fine jazz album with a big band feel, but bored me a little bit to listen all the way through. Good for certain occasions but not an every day album
vraiment pas désagréable. agréablement surpris. vinyle que j'Achèterai si pas cher. jazzy. 7/10
Un album jazz pas pire, ça sonne bien mais c'est pas exceptionnelle. Pourquoi celui ci pls qu'un autre de miles Davis par exemple ? 3.25
I listened to this album, then completely forgot I listened to it, and accidentally listened to it again. So like... three stars I guess.
This band is always interesting and impressive to my ear, and this album is their first to feature Jaco Pastorius on bass, and it really grooves hard. I have a feeling that in the decades that followed, this music might get lumped in with "smooth jazz" (in the negative sense of the label) or something like that, due in part at least to the late-70s production style and choices of instruments, but there's a lot more going on with each track. These musicians are incredibly skilled. Would have LOVED to have seen this group play live.
It's goofy, and my partner hated listening to it, but I didn't mind it. Boring at points, but enjoyable at others. I'd say I liked the second half less than the first. A light 3. My favourite song was Birdland.
jazzy jazz. it's alright.
It's a very nice album. 3.5
3.4/5 nice for background
Playboy Jazz Festival - Hollywood Bowl 1984! Best show I've ever been to... what a blast! I remember Birdland... but that's about it, the quaaludes that I was eating with the cheese & crackers and BYOW knocked me on my ass. But hell yeah, smooth jazz blows!
Not for everybody
not bad for jazz actually. better than that miles davis bs cuz it actually has a structure to it.
Jazz
Took a 2nd listen to appreciate. Kind of funk jazz that _should_ be in my wheelhouse, but I was kind of meh on the first listen. Second time around I found more to like. I could see myself listening on occasion when I'm in the right mood, but don't foresee this getting a lot of rotation in my account. I could see how this might have been kind of groundbreaking in it's time. This feels like Vermont or Portland Jazz. Not sure if the 2 live tracks on the end were part of the original release, but they were some of my favorites. 3/5
This is not the first time I've heard this album but it has been a long time. While Birdland is by far it's most famous song, and now a jazz standard, this is not my favorite song on the album -- that is Rumba Mama, which is really too short but is also the most traditional jazz song on the album. But that may be my problem... I like more traditional jazz or bebop and not the 70's fusion jazz that this album has. If someone asked me to list some great jazz albums, this would not be on the list. It's not bad...just not my thing.
Jazz Fusion is ridiculous, but it's also pretty sweet. Great lineup on this Weather Report album. Jaco and Wayne Shorter are top notch as always. Weather Report are easy to goof on, but if you open your heart I think you will find that it can be a good time.
Not bad, but not for me.
Genres: Jazz fusion Formed: 1970 Run time: 11 songs, 1 hour It’s Jazz, but not the kind that feels torturous to listen to. It was a pleasant enough experience. I think it was mostly instrumental. Track 1 “Birdland” has over 15M listens on Spotify. Another five tracks have over 1M listens and the rest is less than 1M. My Rating: ***
I enjoyed what I heard, but fell asleep to it. Will give it another go.
Ever fallen asleep on the couch in front of the telly, to then later wake up to a puzzling or quaint sort of program broadcast in the middle of the night? Usually I would watch the end of that thing in a drowsy state, and then turned off the TV during the... weather report. Just saying. I've tried listening to that album before, and this is what it made me feel like. At least so far. Funny how I prefer the most renowned musicians of this project (Joe Zawinul, Wayne Shorter and Jaco Pastorius) when they collaborated with other household names, rether than together. Fretless bass player Jaco Pastoris, expecially, shone bright in Joni Mitchell's *Hejira*, and Zawinul and Shorter's stays with Miles Davis for a couple of significant albums were not forgotten. In comparison, Weather Report (or at least this album, supposed to be their magnum opus) is a far less stellar affair than the collabs evoked up there. Remember that Dimery's list forgot key albums by Charles Mingus, among other jazz staples. So when it comes to this genre, you should take said list with a grain of salt. That said, you often need time and several listens to give a jazz album a fair chance, and that's exactly what I'm gonna do now. And for once, I will detail the thing track by track, maybe that will help me make up my mind... "Birdland", a Zawinul composition, relies a little too much on major chords at first. The keyboards sounds favored by Zawinul are cheesy, of course (more on that later, but to sum it up, they're characteristic of the fusion jazz of that time, I guess). Yet at some point there's a mean bridge on those keys that woke me up. And the ending with the clapping hands was a nice and effective touch to take that piece to an unexpected place. Not so bad overall. "A Remark You Made", another composition by Zawinul, proves that cheesefests are not always created by the sounds used, but mostly through the notes you play. Shorter's solo is supposed to be mellow, but it's mostly boring as hell, going to all the syrupy nooks and crannies this "sugary" piece prompts him to go. But once again, the cut unexpectedly comes alive at the end, and gels around some more complex harmonies. I'm not sure this saves the whole track this time, but I'll take that moment as a positive sign the overall record has somethig meaningful to say. "Teen Town". Love it. It's tense and tight. This is a Pastorius composition and his playing is pure fire on this one. Love the subtle touches brought by Zawinul and Shorter as well. And I appreciate the track's brevity. Sometimes jazz musicians were too self-indulgent in their build-ups. Here they're not, because there's no build-up per se. Which is suprising, because this is the band's main asset so far. Speaking of which, I didn't know what to think about the Wayne Shorter-penned "Harlequin" at first, but in keeping with the first two tracks' structures, it's the final climax, triggered by Zawinul's ambiguous chords, that gives its meaning to the whole endeavor. Not so bad, once again. "Rumba Mamà" is mostly persussion, played live, and this very short track seems to have been included in the record to give writing credits to the drummers/percussionists, Alex Acuña and Manolo Badrena. They're awesome musicians as well, by the way, and not only in this cut dedicated to them. As a consequence, I started paying more attention to the percussions on the Shorter number that followed, "Palladium". But then the tense interaction between Shorter and Zawinual caught my ear, and I couldn't let go. Wow, what a climax, once again! Zawinul's "The Juggler" starts out very gently, its keyboard's hooks even reminding me of the sort of instrumentation found in prog-rock ballad. Yet there's no build-up or final crescendo this time--very quietly, the track goes to sleep. I was a little disappointed at first, but you can't say that Weather Report relies on the same exact formula, at least. Should we write their name "Wether" Report? Closer "Havonius" was composed by Pastorius, and since the latter was far away in the background of the second side tracks, it seems logical that the man takes center stage for the album's finale. I expected a grand climax at the end, and I had one, but somehow, I'm a little disappointed. It all went a little too fast, as if the track only served a "functional" purpose for the album. Then again. it was not that bad a closer. So, to put it in a nutshell, once you go past the clearly *dated* keyboard sounds, here emphasized by the peculiar effects of the fretless bass, you can find some good moments on the album. The musicianship is amazing, of course, but when it comes to the music itself, there also aesthetic flaws in this 1977 album that have nothing to do with the "sound" that is favored here (the main culprit is "A Remark You Made", and its critical place on the second spot of an eight-track LP takes its toll, honestly). 3/5 for the general purposes of this list, which means 8/5 for more general purposes (musicianship, performance, engineering and other technical aspects, contemporary reception...). Next please. Number of albums left to review: 582 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 200 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 97 (including this one) Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 123
I thought this was quite decent - very much, café-jazz but of a better level. I didn't want to turn it off, in any case.
Un instrumental onda de película de Sci-fi. Es bueno para banda sonora, medio monótono para la escucha. Sirvió para estudiar.
Nice, happy jazz music. I'd like to talk about the hat on the cover of the album though. It looks a little like a fedora with safari flaps in the back? Could that be the inspiration for the classic Brian's Hat sketch on I Think You Should Leave? I've never seen someone be able to pull off that look before. 3 stars.
Do you like jazz? Pretty good jazz album with some cool electronic elements mixed in with a random live samba track in the middle. Some of it drags a little bit but I mostly enjoyed it. Havona was a really good closing track. Almost a 4 star for me Score: 70 Art: 80
Jazz fusion that sounds like it belongs in a 70s/80s television show. Album starts off pretty mild, but by the last song it gets a little nutty.
Several of these songs made me feel like I was playing a beach-themed Mario Kart course
Good music
Big nostalgia hit for 'Birdland' alone, which was one of my favorite stand tunes we got to play in high school band. Not every track on this LP measures up to the verve of its opener, but with Jaco's basslines gluing everything together into a perfect rhythmic mesh even the more filler tracks keep moving at a great clip. Lovely jazz album overall and definitely a formative LP in my high school years.
I like to call this musicians music. All my musician friends love this because every band member is incredibly skilled. But if you don't know what a pentatonic scale is, it just sounds like smooth jazz.
Birdland makes me want to dance like Charlie Brown.
Really impressive compositions and instrumentations but it doesn't do too much for me. Probably won't revisit this album except for a few songs. A Remark You Made is a stand out to me.
Pleasantly surprised.
3. Album no 50 the same night Lebron broke the record.
Hmm, what's this about ... oh wait I know this song. Oh "that's" Weather Report. Good jazzy fun album. I'm a sucker for fretless bass though.
Not my thing.
This is some pretty dated, synth-heavy jazz fusion. The artistry is great tho. Especially the drumming and bass playing.
A long time since I listened to some jazz rock, but this is a little disappointing. Birdland starts the album and it is an outstanding piece; sadly nothing else on the album comes near it. The musicianship cannot be faulted but most of the subsequent tracks are a little too smooth and bland. Gets an extra star because of Birdland
Jazz on fire
This sub-genre of jazz works and doesn't work for me depending on -- who knows? This one wasn't my favourite although I appreciate that they play well. This sound likely influenced acid jazz to come in the following decade. Spotify's algorithm fed me Zappa's Hot Rats after this. I hadn't heard that in ages and quite enjoyed it.
It's something that Joe Zawinul, an Austrian immigrant, could write two songs so emblematic and oft-covered by American Jazz greats: Birdland and Mercy Mercy Mercy, though I think jazz aficionados did not like the fact that the first notes of this album are played by a synthesizer. This is a jazz super group - Wayne Shorter and Joe paid their dues with the top acts of the sixties, joined by Jaco P "the greatest bass player in the world". I was never a jazz-rock fusion fan but this is near the top of the list, I would think. A higher mark would be forthcoming except for Rumba Mama. To say it sounds out of place is an understatement.
This album, perhaps more than any other can claim to have introduced jazz to the masses. I'm sure most folks have heard the catchy Birdland. Although it sometimes veers dangerously close to sounding like the schmaltzy easy listening jazz of the 70's ala Kenny G, Chuck Mangione, it redeems itself with some crack musicians playing - Joe Zawinul on keyboards, Wayne Shorter on sax, but the best is Jaco Pastorius on bass. Jaco's playing on Havona is simply brilliant. Material - 2, Musicmanship - 4, so overall this gets a 3.
Good as jazzy background music, got a bit too "synth-y" near the end though. Definitely sounded like it could have been the soundtrack of an early 80s movie, especially the first song as the opening credits music!
As a former high school and college pep band trumpet player, Weather Report is iconic for Birdland alone. That being said the rest of the album all blurred together
Not bad
Not a great fan of this sort of jazz fusion, but birdland is a stand out song. Glad I listened worth list entry but won’t make my rotation.
Funky! This was a great listen, with interesting instrumentation and a good mix of tracks.
Jazzy, a bit boring, nothing to really say. Didn't love it, didn't hate it. 3/5.
Starts off interesting, devolves into the prototype for "new age" music, not a fan.
Ágætt dót. Ekkert sem ég hlusta á daglega.
Easy Listening. I am more into e.g. the 'Easy Listening for the Hard of Hearing' (https://www.discogs.com/release/119645-Boyd-Rice-Frank-Tovey-Easy-Listening-For-The-Hard-Of-Hearing) though, so 3 stars
Pretty good
Quite good
Before today I had never heard of Weather Report. They are a fusion jazz band (jazz mixed with rock and funk). The music reminded me of upbeat TV show theme songs from the 80's and 90's. Jaco Pastorius has been called the "Jimi Hendrix of bass playing" and I can see why! Just have a listen to the songs Teen Town or Palladium, or from the extended release of the album, Black Market, and you will hear it too! His bass playing is phenomenal!! This is great ambiance music, and I really like how they blend jazz and funk together really well! Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this album! Not something for heavy rotation, but I would listen again for sure! Favourite songs: Birdland, Black Market (Live), Rumba Mama, Havona, Teen Town, A Remark You Made, Palladium, The Juggler Least favourite song: Harlequin 3/5
Jaco Pastorius fretless bass playing is pretty cool, but nothing too interesting on this album. Took me about five tracks before I even realized it was him.
I enjoy Birdland, some of the others were a bit strange
Solid 3. been on a bit of a jazz kick though
Funky album, largely played as background sound during my Vancouver job search! Good accompaniment on a rainy day, though I should relisten to give it justice. Havona has some sick bass!
This was a weird mix of elevator musak and Thundercat. I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t love it.
The first track – Birdland – was so good that none of the other tunes on the album quite reached that level. Nevertheless, the album was still a rather pleasant listen.
12th October 2022 Listened on the way in to the office and in the stage prepping for the GD Get Together. Watched see how they run in the afternoon. Nice bit of jazz pop, didn’t set my world on fire but was bright and breezy.
funky
I was really surprised that this was the original recording of "Birdland." I definitely recognized this version, but as someone very familiar with The Manhattan Transfer's version, I didn't realize the song's history only went back to this album. It really got things going off to an amazing, energetic start. Then it kind of took things down a bit. Once I got my mind wrapped around the change in tone, I appreciated the electro-jazz sound that recalled driving along Chicago's Lake Shore Drive in the 90s to WNUA Smooth Jazz 95.5. The whole rest of the album felt fairly continuous in this groove... That is, except for the seemingly random, two-minute live recording of "Rumba Mamá" which seemed quite jarring and out of context here.
This one was pretty meh for me. It was fine...it was a pleasant background while I worked...sometimes a little funky, but just not quite enough so to really draw me in.
OK background music
Jaunty, funky, rich with diverse musical influences. Not really my thing, but there's some top notch musicianship here. Fave Songs: Palladíum, Birdland, Teen Town, A Remark You Made
I argue this album is a bit of a miss. Not because it's bad, but rather because it should have been so much better given the subject matter, performers, and genre. Don't get me wrong, though: I like it!
3/5
I have never heard of them before. Interesting, spacy/airy jazz feel to this album. Not bad overall, at times it got a bit hectic and unorganized. I'd listen to their other discography.
Heavy Weather is the 7th album by American jazz fusion band Weather Report. It was the most commercially successful album for the band and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2011. This album was released towards the end of the jazz-rock movement but was able to extend the life of that movement a little longer. The band had a new bassist for this album which provided a better low end to the band's busy high end of melodies. Heavy Weather was a lot of fun to listen to, and I hope I can hear more from this band later on this journey.
A grower, though I think the early tracks sound very dated and didn't age well.
Definitely need to be in the right frame of mind for this one. I really enjoyed the live stuff at the end of the extended version.
Yeah OK - fine - fun in a vintage movie kind of way, but not something I think I'd listen to out of choice on a sunny day
Funky and fun, but probably not a repeat listen for me
Birdland slapped!! The rest of the album was fine!!
first listen the live version of Teen Town is 12 BPM faster and way cool
Voor jazz vond ik dit enorm goed te hachelen.
A good fusion/jazz album. This one is great to listen to while working.
I like Birdland. Good stuff. I just really need to learn jazz. I bet this is good.
Normal
Rating: 6/10
3, i smell olives when i listen to this
Eeepinen levynkansi ja konsepti on houkutteleva, mutta lopulta oli vähän pettymys. Jotenki se bassokitarasaundi jazz fusion jutuissa ei vaan nappaa. Ehkä kuitenkin tarpeeks mielenkiintosta settiä että ansaitsee kolmosen kakkosen sijaan.
I really liked the album and reading about the band. RIP JAco
Some nice chill jazz fusion. It has a good mood to it that is energizing and upbeat which I like. 6/10
3.5
Enjoyed this album
As soon as I saw the album cover I knew we would be in for a treat. Glad to see I was right in that regard! A very interesting jazz type of fusion album. All the text of Weather Report and Heavy Weather also felt prescient due to the current snow storm outside. This was great music to listen to while working and I'm glad this funky album was on the list!
Here's a wild one. The genre listed on Apple Music is "fusion".....of what? It's jazzy, but also soft-rocky. Is this of the no-man's land that is adult contemporary? Whatever it is, it's quirky and I like it. Had no idea what to expect track to track, that's always fun. Favorite tracks: Birdland, Rumba Mama. Album art: What a cover, this is incredible. Never seen this before, and it stopped me in my tracks. A lightning volcano wearing a giant fedora? This belongs in a museum. 3.5/5
It starts off sounding like every sitcom soundtrack from the era, but ends up being pretty interesting.
2022.01.18
Not my taste in jazz but not bad.
Birdland is fun still
Pretty fucking solid.
The jazz flute!
good album to listen to while you work on your computer
3.25
not for me. 3/5
Nice, but feels too middle of the road.
For a bunch of superb musicians who are perfectly in tune, you'd think they'd be able to actually FIND the tune with an hour length album.
Jazzy!
Aw, yeah? Hunh.
Very good fusion jazz. Not all tracks are winners here but overall it's pretty solid.
Yeah quite fun! Reminded me of a demo I had on my childhood keyboard, Sims music when they're at a bar and also 80s crime film. Probs wouldn't listen again, but very interesting music
Not bad, much more palatable jazz than some of the others we've had
Interesting, was quite fun and enjoyed the jazzyness. Probably not going to listen again though.
Classic but now sounds dated
Yet another album that's basically one song that we've all heard 1000000 times and some similar tunes. Fusion muzak, though Jaco is the man.
I know Birdland and like that song but most of the others I find boring and kind of dweeby.
I wish Donald Fagen would have laid some sarcastic vocals on these smooth ass grooves.
Pretty nice, but nothing that blew me away. Live I'd love it.
I feel like I'm writing the exact same review for all the instrumental only albums on this list. Basically this would make decent background music, but not really interested in listening to this album more than once. I'm nearly positive that first song "Birdland" is a theme song from some cheesy 80s tv show, although I can't remember which one, and the internet is no help, but that little bit of nostalgia isn't enough to bump up the overall rating.
Clàssic del jazz fussió, un dels fills bastards de l'In a Silent Way' de Miles Davis, aquí amb Wayne Shorter portant la veu dominant, juntament amb altres grans noms com Jaco Pastorius o Joe Zawinul. Un gran èxit comercial gràcies a 'Birdland', tot ell un dels discos de jazz més accessibles i d'escolta més agraïda que conec
This was a nice, chill listen. Some funky beats and enjoyable melodies, but I don't know if I would listen to this for anything but background music. I would definitely have to re-visit, though.
modern jazz, not my favorite style, but okay.
Good fusion. Birdland nostalgic
Fine as background music
Normal
Weather is the apt metaphor. Basslines whirl like winds, melodies build like clouds; cold fronts, warm air pockets. It’s all there. You just put it together.
It was a pretty good experience. I went in with lower expectations since their music is experimental, but this album surprised me. I liked the piano and rhythms, even if they were jazz rhythms. Favorite Track: Birdland
Low key background fayre, 3
first jazz album i actually enjoyed
It's fine. There are interesting tracks here, but 70s instrumental albums aren't really my favorite. Highlights: 1, 2, and 3.
A good jazz album. It would be great to sleep to if not for the yelling halfway through during "Rumba Mama".
This one got my into Jaco Pastorius
We appreciated how important this album is, but we likely won’t listen to it again. It sounds like the intro to every 80’s sitcom.
An enjoyable and through and through just very solid jazz fusion album. The consistency in itself stands out compared to most jazz fusion albums even if they never reach some of the insane creative heights of other artists. It's a fun, interesting enough listen. But honestly, not one where i feel entirely drawn to keep diving into time and time again.
Interesting stuff. Prolly not something I’d listen too in my spare time, but kinda groovy nonetheless 🤷🏻♂️
The album is nice as background music and easy listening but the album for me is nothing special easy to listen to but not something I would rush to listen again 3/5
Digg album! Likte veldig godt stemningen, minna om en eller annen spill-soundtrack. Fin bakgrunnsmusikk, men ikke noe jeg ville hørt på sånn når som helst. Best sanger: Birdland, Palladium og The Juggler.
Not bad smooth jazz, I liked the arrangements, production was very crisp and clean, just didn't feel it was breaking any new ground or pushing the sound beyond things I've heard
It wasnt bad. I guess I don’t have much more to say about jazz fusion. The first track “Birdland” was pretty cool
Yeah pretty good as far as the jazz stuff we've had so far goes.
Jazz con diferentes instrumentos. Todo vocal. Nada del otro mundo, pero tranquilo de escuchar. Supongo que para los muy amantes.
Not my cup of tea but overall a vibe 3.2
Love Birdland and nice sax.
I own it. Birdland is a bop but the rest is just fine. The schmaltzy side of fusion just isn't for me.
The musicians are phenomenal, but I feel like years of my father watching the Weather Channel have ruined me, preventing me from seeing this as anything but smooth background music. Again, well crafted, I just can't help my brain. Favorite tracks: "Birdland", "Teen Town"
Musically very, very good, just not my style. A little too "funky" for my tastes, but that's a me problem.
Shorter has his characteristic spaciness, and there's other good playing on the record. Overall, though, his straight-ahead work is more rhythmically interesting. The fusion doesn't add anything to that formula as far as my ears are concerned, though it does sound like the band is having a good time. Good as far as instrumental rock goes.
Background music
Cheddar. Mild.
Not my kind of jazz, but clearly massively talented.
There's some well executed sax and bass in here, but overall it does little for me.
I have a double album of TV themes from the 70s and 80s stashed away in my collection somewhere. Did Ronco just steal this album and slap a different cover on it? Jazz rock fusion is the worst musical style ever! However, I loved the live rumba tune, so going to add a star just for that. "More manic rumba, less synthy jazz fusion" should be general lifestyle advice to make the world a better place.
638/1001 2026.06.17 🌕🌕🌑🌑🌑
Not for me, this. It’s so *jazz hands* I expect it has its merits, be fucked if I know what they are though
Loved Birdland, but didn't feel much for the rest of it
I really don't understand who this kind of music is supposed to appeal to. It's definitely not me. Where's the vocals? Where's the funk? Yay you can improvise some solos, but can you make something listenable?
Hold music 😭
Can appreciate the skill set and visualise many movie scenes to the album but wouldn’t listen to it again.
Sounds like the soundtrack to a cool 80's movie. Of various genres. But not something I'd listen to for just the music
2/5 Prefer songs with lyrics but it sounded good! Favorite Song: Rumba Mama
Ah I don’t fear this type of jazz, very late 70s/late eighties movie soundtrack stuff
Are these demos? Is that the cover? Why do you want ‘heavy’ in the title? If I’ve heard of multiple members without having any interest in the group, why aren’t they better? I didn’t dislike every minute of this but those are my questions. WikiTIL: They wrote Birdland.
Electronic fusion jazz. Favorite track: birdland other picks: teen town, a remark you made
Only like live jazz
Meh. After going through this list I understand the different types of jazz, unfortunately all of them are just not for me.
Very talented but not really my speed. Felt like I was in an elevator. A relatively funky one, but still
Meh another instrumental album which is ok nothing soecial sinply just good musicians playing good music. But not lifechanging
I didn't hate this but it ended up feeling forgettable. Feels a little unfair because I had a Rippingtons phase, but really just no desire to go back to this
..
Tonight! On NBC, Lil' Regis bites off more than he can chew in "Trouble at the Dentist." Right after that it's South Sudan's favourite family man taking it one day at time in "Juba-Lations." After that it's back-to-back premieres featuring "Curb the Serb" and King Triscuit's sitcom debut with "Please Let it End Eventually." It's the situation comedy power hour right here on America's family uhh paragon of uhh you get the idea. News at 11. Yes, the fedora album is sitcom-theme core followed by a bunch of songs that I'm almost certain went quadruple platinum in Japan. The saxophone is too gentle, the jazz is too lame, and the hat does indeed look as though it has safari flaps. 1.5-2 HIGHLIGHTS: It's illegal for you to ask me that.
This is so slick, it felt like it slipped in one ear and out of the other.
5/10
Not my jam. 2.5 stars.
Yummy plain oatmeal for breakfast, tapioca mash for lunch and a 3 oz broiled chicken breast for dinner.
Much wank. So cheese
kahoot ?
That was painful. 80s sitcom music. 2/5.
Максимально фонова музика, проте звучить гармонійно. 2,5
I didn’t realize elevator musak was a genre covered in the book. I really like jazz but this was crap
I like a bit of jazz fusion as much as the next man, but I’ve never quite understood the buzz about Heavy Weather. The piece that garners the most accolades is “Birdland”, a track that makes me think of BBC sporting themes – possibly snooker – and sets the tone for an album that feels desperately safe. 5/10
A quite lame jazz album. Too synth-y for its own good. Made me wonder how much cocaine had been consumed in its creation.
Album #106 Weather Report: Heavy Weather Easy-listening jazz might not be for me. So far, the only jazz from this list that I have actively enjoyed is the chaotic jazz of Charles Mingus, music which grips you and forces you to pay attention. I found Weather Report to be as gripping as an actual weather report, interesting enough, but once I got the gist of it, I zoned out. Not bad music, and there were some moments of experimentation, but ultimately an album I’m likely to forget I ever heard. Best Songs: Birdland, The Juggler, A Remark You Made Worst Song: Rumba Mama Score out of 10: 5
Another album I didn't hate, I just got so tired of. I tend to like jazz-fusion, but I don't want to sit and listen to an hour straight of it. Turned it off with 4 songs left. Might go back and finish. 2/5
Good music but missed someone singing along