Joe still jammin' up dere with Wayne and Jaco. Miroslav Vitouš and Alex Acuña (not Peter Erskine) on drums, plus Manolo Badrena playing tambourine. will be joining them soon, but "not yet" (Gladiator). Talk about the "Dream Team." Listen up people, this music does not age, it's FRESH in 2024. All credit to Miles for creating the genre (jazz fusion), but Weather Report PERFECTED it! To da max! Reply
Weather Report was a magical blend of musical genius. There will never be another like it. I miss Joe and Jaco but they come back alive every time I hear their wonderful music again.
I hope you don't mind if I add The Late Chick Corea to your list of Great Legend's/Pioneers of Fusion Jazz and his Return to Forever Band.Your comment is spot less/perfect.(May Their Music Forever Live On)😊😊😊
I knew Jaco. I sold him my Acoustic 360 bass rig when I took a break from music in '73. We lived a couple of blocks from each other and went to the same high school. He was a really nice guy, kinda quiet when I knew him. Truly a one-of-a-kind talent. He could play any instrument first time out like he'd been playing it all his life.
Weather Report was the greatest fusion band EVER. An ensemble based on Zawinul and Shorter that evolved with fantastic formations until finding Jaco as the chery of the cake, unforgetable!
Jaco's style was totally unique; he played the bass as if it were a lead guitar. He added so much depth to Weather Report. He's the best electric bassist ever. I got to meet him at a mutual friend's home in early '70s; unfortunately everybody there was pretty f+++d up but he was nice enough to say hi to me when we were introduced. Wish he hadn't been so messed up & had gotten a chance to talk to him. But he went on to have stellar career. Can't take that away from him. Messed up or not he was totally in his own orbit. No one played like him.
On Dec 31, 1999, jazz fans nationwide voted Birdland the #1 Jazz Song of the 20th Century, followed by Stanley Clarke's School Days at #2. I always thought that was so cool -- two songs from the late 70s that resonated so much with people that TWENTY YEARS later they were voted as Top Two. I was in college in the late 70s and listened to those two songs all the time. Stanley Clarke & Jaco are the top two bass players in history. Stanley's bass solo on School Days is historic. Love both of those superstars. Stanley's solo on Spanish Phases for Strings & Bass will blow you away.
Thanks to Araki I discovered some of my favourite bands like King Crimson and Pink Floyd, but Weather Report rocks hard too. I also started listening to bands I stopped listening to as a kid like AC/DC. Bless you Araki 😔🙏
I actually played this in jazz band before listening to it rather than listening it it because it was referenced in Jojo, but most of my favorite songs and bands come from watching Jojo
I saw them at the Berklee music hall in Boston Massachusetts in 1984 I was 8 months pregnant with my 37 year old daughter! I admit my seat was uncomfortable cause of pregnancy but it was the BEST concert I ever went to! Thanks to my brother for lending me his weather report album I had to see them! Now I can binge watch on RU-vid! They're the best!
My favorite part was Jaco’s vocals on this. His voice sounds just like an angel. You could tell he knew every note, cord, and sound from the whole band. Astonishing !!!!!!
My two favorite parts of this are Jaco's vocals, and the fact that I always envisioned the soloing in the opening bars played on guitar, but here, Jaco plays them on his bass!!!
Heavy weather was the album that got me into jazz. that was in the late seventies. after that i listened to miles, coltrane, ornette, mingus, monk, rollins and all the others. i don't understand why people think jazz is old-fashioned these days
As a "young man" I can definitely testify, mainstream songs are garbage, most good music from this time are done by like, one or two people in their basement because it has passion
I had the privilege of seeing them perform in Englewood, NJ. During the performance, an older black guy came into the auditorium and walked up on stage. It was Dizzy Gillespie. He jammed with them for over an hour. It was fantastic!
RIP Wayne Shorter. Here he's playing with Joe, Jaco and Peter this theme from the Weather Report album "Heavy Weather" (1977). Composed by keyboardist Joe Zawinul, the studio recording featured Alex Acuña (not Peter Erskine) on drums, plus Manolo Badrena playing tambourine.
I so love this piece. They make it look so easy :-) Some times you hear other people play covers with this song but they don't ' swing ' the phrases like these guys do. Who could not like this. :-)
Absolutely sick! I'm speechless at the sound of Zawinuls synths mixed in with Jaco and whatever God like thing he is doing on bass. Incredible musicianship.
With complete respect to the obvious musical genius on display here when I listen to this song I always imagine it as the theme tune to the best 70's buddy cop TV show that never was.
Piggy-backing on Manhattan Transfer's great song. It baffles me why groups like Weather Report didn't learn to entertain the audience more, like introducing co-ordinated on-stage moves, costumes, props (like a cocktail table or neon signs) etc. How anyone could sit through hours of peaple jamming, probably making multiple mistakes in the precess, is beyond me. They should have learned from MT's approach to putting on a good show.
To Me.. the Greatest Band Ever!! The Music is DAMN Near Perfect to have No Vocalist!!.. I don't have the Words But this is Extremely Special pure Brilliance!!!!
@@kathleenflick6041 Never quite got over how Weather Report polluted MT's great song with their 'bedroom jamming'. Wish I could get a time machine and at least teach them a move or two.
Back when it came out in 1977, a struggling rock station in the Twin Cities, WDGY, tried out a format called "full color radio", which involved playihg this just about every ten minutes. Still, it has never worn thin on me. I have the CD and play it frequently.
I was lucky enough to have seen Weather Report in concert way back in 1976. About half way through the concert the stage lights went dark. Then a spot light suddenly lit up Jaco sitting alone on stage. He then started a solo Bass performance which absolutely was the most amazing thing that I have ever seen a musician do. I was in the front row center stage and couldn't believe what I was watching as he played that Bass. It was just so incredible that when he finished there was a few seconds of total silence then an eruption of applause & an extended standing ovation. I will never/ever forgot that night! RIP Jaco, Joe & Wayne and thanks for the memories!
I saw these guys live in London and I feel sorry for anyone who didn't see them live. They were absolutely majestic. Pastorius 10 minute solo was amazing
That Asshole in the Bar in Fort Liquor Dale though Jaco had a torrid but amazing life and Music like this cant even be performed like this today. Not a PC in sight there Smartphine ??? lol
Absolutely!! I like the older jazz too, but I really like fusion jazz in the 70s. Even though the 60s was a great musical decade with the Beatles and the British Invasion and a whole lot of other stuff, I think the 70s were better in part because of the jazz.
In the mid-'70s I went to two Miles Davis concerts when he was playing fusion---HATED IT! In the '60s saw Bob Dylan turn electric! Didn't like it! I was stuck in these musicians' pasts. Came to the realization that genius has to develop. Later, I came to love what they developed. Today, I can't get enough of Miles's fusion and Dylan's electric! The same is true of Weather Report. This IS jazz and it's exciting!
The music of Faso is an inexhaustible source of sweetness. It allows us to plunge deep inside ourselves and at the same time resonate with our fellow man, Yé Lassina Coulibaly❤❤❤❤❤
Be honest: you would rather have sung the song, wore some sharp suits - maybe with a cocktail in hand - and 'danced' the song under purple neon lights - just like Manhattan Transfer? It's OK, you can reveal your true feelings on the matter.
Saw this same line up of WR in summer '81... So happy I got to see this configuration. I can NOT stop stomping and moving when I hear this!! The energy is infectious!!
But...assume Manhattan Transfer got you PROPERLY dancing though?1?! The original is always the best (and they kept their clothes on - no awful hairy chests/backs!)
@@gordonrehm3350 Pretentious?! No, that would be people who try and play in the key of B major or Gb minor. MT are the epitome of cool, sexy, talent and pizzazz, blazing a magical trail that bands like WR followed but never matched.
@@hairlessx11 What in the bloody hell does the key being performed in during a given moment have to do with true musical innovation, passion, soul? A little clue to perhaps enhance your extremely limited understanding-NOTHING! Most of your commentary is simplistic blathering; denigrating musicians based on keys chosen for composition or improv moments is a flaccid and ignorant attempt at who knows what. And if you believe that there is pretense on the part of WR, then WHY DID MT COPY THEIR ARRANGEMENT almost note for note. I suppose you will now tell us that as well as "gifting" Joe Zawinul with this as his composition to "help him out" you'll claim that the arrangement is of MT origin and "gifted" to WR. Hey, why not add ever more fantasies. Now, when are you going to enlighten all of us "mistaken" ones concerning the date of conception of Birdland? And your absolute proof that this was written by MT, which you of course can not offer.
my god. Jaco churns out that luscious bass line while SCATTING Mr. Shorter's harmony. then he goes over the top, harmonizing with it. Mr. Shorter is suitably impressed. so am i. thanks!
Goosebumps of delight, my utlimate Weather Report line-up playing one of the ultimate, perfectly joyful and creative songs Zawinul's factory of wonders produced.
Joesph Zawinul, Herbie Hancock & Chick Corea All are credited, The true Pioneers of Electric Piano & Fusion Jazz, Weather Reports 1st critically acclaimed Album Mysterious Traveler in 74' broke barriers in Jazz, the track Nubian Sundance, The Musical arrangement is still simply amazing to this day, A true work of Art a Masterpiece It sets the mold for other great bands like Return Forever to emulate, The 1st 5 minutes of that song is epic & stupendous, Doesn't get any better than that
"Birdland" is a jazz-fusion instrumental composition written by keyboardist Joe Zawinul of Weather Report. The song made its debut on Weather Report’s 1977 studio album, Heavy Weather. With Birdland at the helm of the album, the song gained a tremendous amount of media success, receiving a number of awards, as well as ranking high on various Billboard charts.
I was at the concert outside Cleveland when Weather Report, Santana, Mahavishnu Orchestra were playing! What a SHOW! It was the 4th of July and some idiots were throwing fire crackers in the show! Imagine it! Only thing missing was Return to Forever! What a life!
jazzynet1 Can’t remember the year (76?) when I saw Lenny White, Al DiMeola, w/ WR as headliner at Winterland in SF. One of the best concerts that I’ve ever attended! I think that RTF had just broken up. I miss Fusion.
Jaco redefined the electric bass. To me, he is the greatest electric bassist of all time. As Sting pointed out in the docu film, Jaco: "All of us stand on Jaco’s shoulders. No one could have missed that section of DNA out. You know, you needed Jaco, to get to this point."
I do not want to put down Jaco, but his Bass Playing did not become the Main Line of Electric Bass Playing, it was to special, but it will always be an important Sideline.
You'd have been better to have swapped your ticket for the mighty Manhattan Transfer - they had more talent on their little finger (x4) than the whole of Weather Report's hand(s). You would have at least had an evening of great entertainment: cool harmonies, sharp suits, sexy moves and much more - perhaps even with a cocktail or two.
@@watermelone_man It's your choice of course but MT ooze class and are streets ahead of Weather Report in almost every department, most noticeably in their ability to sing AND dance at the same time. No one can tell me say Wayne Shorts or Jack Pastorio had more charisma, they just play 'complicated' scales while a hairy bloke drummed.
@@hairlessx11 I agree to disagree. Jaco had, in my opinion, more charisma than the whole MT band. He sings and he dances too. Besides, I would be there for the music, not a dance performance and a cocktail.
Hearing this as a kid I didn't know what the lead instrument was! It was not until the last 5 years that I learned that it was the brilliant electric bassist Jaco Pastorius! His is classic song "Portrait of Tracy" has been sampled by hip-hop artist Chingy ft. Tyrese "Pulling Me Back" & R&B female vocal trio SWV's "Rain"!
I somehow like how they have been singled out by the different cameras. Incredible musicians, each in their own place, yet perfectly playing together. 100/100
Still in awe how much Jacco Pastorious, created so much out of four strings, bass playing underlying the rythim and overlays lyrical stanzas as well , listen to a genious past but not forgotten
These guys are heroes. Life's not fair, Joe was carrying like 6 keyboards and 2 tonnes of analog shit while Shorter's got a soprano sax and Erskine sits on a snare and two 13inch tom-toms from the opening band drummer. ;)
These guys were way ahead of their time ! The kind of music that´s being made nowadays is nowhere near this ! One of the greatest bands ever ! RIP Jaco & Joe . You are greatly missed !
Zawinul was an absolute master of his craft not only as a player but a catalyst for bringing out the very best out of other musicians ... Carlos Santana said as much when playing This is This with them. They don’t make Joe’s or Jaco’s any more
Oh! what a beautiful memory first time Weather Report played down town Los Angeles and I was back stage with a German music journalist meting every body in the band and Willy Bobo. Thank you for the memories
Ce morceau, cette musique c'est ma vie ! C'est la vie 35 ans que je rebondis avec ce rhythme ce son et si j'ai un cafard .. allez hop ils sont là Ce sont des génies sortis d'une belle lampe Merci à eux
in their band prime there simply was not a more musically diversified, technically proficient, 'so in love with the music', group than Weather Report when they were on stage...it was quite breathtaking...nothing better on a warm summer night at a lovely outdoor venue under the stars
Without the bassist Jaco Pastorius, this masterpiece "BIRDLAND" would not have been born. His 4-beat backing is also perfect. I wonder if what kind of music would he have made with Miles Davis if they would collaborated.
@@phein5793 Among the multiple narrow opinions elicited by this proponent of shaved genitalia, the delusion held concerning the author of Birdland cannot be wrung from its iron cranium.
@@hairlessx11 Which must, in your mind, mean that this was originally recorded and arranged by MT, and " later" recorded (with existing arrangement?) by Weather Report? Do you know what year the MT recording is stated as? HELLO HELLO HELLO? Endless fantasies.........
@@hairlessx11 I find it endlessly interesting that you, having been unable to demonstrate the provenance of Birdland being with Manhattan Transfer, also do not have the simple humility to correct your ubiquitous incorrect comments thereupon. Your non stop disparaging of one of the greatest musical groups in history, with truly great musicians, exposes a grasp of music which is quite obviously narrow, shallow and likely bereft of any truly extensive listening experience. Opinions based on simple dislike are often hollow. If ever you come to understand all that is delineated under the very large umbrella of what is termed "jazz", you will discover that this music, after the compositional aspect, requires musicians that can tell a story. Create lush, intense, cerebral, spiritual landscapes. And yes, believe or not, musicians of great virtuosity THAT CAN PLAY THEIR ASS OFF! THESE THINGS ARE THE ESSENCE OF WEATHER REPORT. And as you seem to disapprove of musicians that can truly play, I would refer you to the historical roster of those that played Birdland, and, please, I invite every mighty (and feeble) attempt to call them "jobbing musos" as you have WR.
Hey! Just found this by accident. I never knew it existed! I was in that audience and what a night it was! Birdland is the popular one, of course, but Jaco's solo work was simply beautiful - paced, melodic, he just carried you with him and nearly had you weeping at the elegance.
You should have gone up the road to see Manhattan Transfer instead. They must have been devastated to hear WR trash their great song. Rather pay to see four true proefessionals swinging, jiving, grooving and singing than a bunch of 'musicians' who couldn't even dance, yet alone hit the high notes in any meaningful way.
@@hairlessx11 If MT were performing down the road from WR, they'd likely play to a one third full house of geriatric hangers-on. And the full house at WR would have heard the originators of "Birdland".
Folks forget, Joe Zawinul was Miles Davis’ keyboard man for years. Weather Report was his band. Even Wayne Shorter kissed the ring. You can see the problem. Pastorius joins, they go from 2,000 seaters to big venues and hit singles. It’s a very old story and when it goes bitter it goes really bitter. I don’t recall a single Weather Report crossover hit not written by Jaco Pastorius but ‘oh no it’s Joe Zawinul’s band!’ No wonder Zawinul now says ‘let’s not dwell on the negatives let’s just move on!’ I remember repeated documentaries trying to write Pastorius out of the history of Weather Report. It won’t work. Just listen to the music. A disgraceful ‘South Bank Show’ in the UK attempted to write the acquisition of Pastorius off as a ‘pop-star move’! For God’s sake, listen to the music, please!
It was actually Wayne who played for years with Miles, 1959-1970, and in his second great Quintet that featured Wayne, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, and Tony Williams. Joe played with him 1969 to record the iconic records In a Silent Way and Bitches Brew on which Wayne also played. Joe had a long career playing with the great Cannonball Adderley.
Acojonante el swing the Jaco ... !, como flotaba el tema, imposible no estar escuchando ese bajo todo el rato.... Amazing swing from Jaco, imposible no to hear the bass during all the song !
Of course I've heard of Weather Report but dismissed them as sort of lightweight. So, on hearing the passing of Wayne Shorter, I've given them a listen. Very tight. Very cool. And you know what - one never stops learning.
Gunnar Thomas that s Peter Erskine one of my all time favoriete drummers since North SEA jazz steps ahead 'trains' w. Victor Bailey on the bass, frontmen Mike Manieri (still going strong; saw him me last birthday in March) and the late and forever great Michael Brecker.
When we first got hold of this album at school in the 70's the reputation was that the band had an incredible rhythm section whereas Stanley Clarke was the bass player of note at the time.
I remember watching this video 13 years ago. I had been playing classical music all my life. This song and specifically this video opened up the jazz world to me. Birdland will always be my personal favorite
