Weather ReportWeather Report are widely regarded as America’s finest ever jazz fusion band. Originally recorded for FM broadcast, this superb live set at The Agora in Columbus, Ohio, on October 17th, 1972, was taped a few months after the release of their classic 1972 album I Sing the Body Electric, and features Joe Zawinul (keyboards), Wayne Shorter (saxophone), Miroslav Vitous (bass), Eric Gravátt (drums), and Dom Um Romão (percussion).
Beginning with a tight (17 min.) “Unknown Soldier” the band slips into “Vertical Invader” (17+ minutes), and then into “Improvisation” that continues with a similar feel. “Percussion>Directions” begins with some keyboard sounds along with Gravatt’s relatively straight drumming, with Romao adding some nice percussion flourishes. On “Directions”,Shorter comes in for some typically minimalist stabs of his sax with Zawinul coloring things, with the rest of the band adding density to this well known tune. For whatever reason the tune fades out around the 2 minute mark, and then fades in rapidly, which detracts from the effect of the music.
Disc 2 begins with a band introduction by Gravatt after the first portion of the concert. and then fades into “Improvisation>Dr. Honoris Causa” (tracks 2, 3), which is another chance for the band to show what WR was capable of during this period in their development–plenty of keyboard, sax, and percussion–in a swirling piece of music. The band then begins another “Improvisation” (which flows into “In A Silent Way>It’s About That Time”) with Zawinul’s keyboards sounding like he’s from outer space and Romao’s percussion sounding very organic. Gravatt and Shorter both add texture to this improvisation which sounds very much from it’s time before the band’s sound morphed into somewhat funkier areas later on. The short “…Silent Way” is (obviously) reminiscent of what Davis was exploring during this time. “It’s About…” continues the same open, impressionistic feel. The music has an open feeling–very expansive–with some nice percussion from Romao, and more shards from Shorter adding to the mix which builds and subsides very nicely. A very nice (10 minutes) version of these pieces. Track 7 is “Percussion”, with Gravatt out front showing why Zawiinul thought he was the best drummer for the band. His muscular, precise solo at the start is a nice intro for the rest of the band to follow. This is a very tight (7 minutes) tune that unfortunately fades out, into “Orange Lady” (track 8), which is well known to fans of this era of the band. Sounding very upbeat at first and then slowing things down, the band flowing together, this too is a nice version of this tune. Things end with “Percussion”, with Romao using several instruments for an exotic feel–an organic way to end things.
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