Weather Report was an influential jazz fusion band of the 1970s and 1980s, … Read Full Bio ↴Weather Report was an influential jazz fusion band of the 1970s and 1980s, one of the bands that defined the genre. Their initial style was collectively improvised free jazz with a strong rhythmic pulse and Latin influences; moving into more funk-oriented rhythms. The sound also developed from an acoustic lineup to increasingly synthesised textures as keyboardist Joe Zawinul embraced successive generations of technology.
The band was founded in 1970 by Joe Zawinul (keyboards) and Wayne Shorter (saxophones) following their experiences in Miles Davis's pioneering electric band of the late 60s, although they had been friends for a decade before this. Zawinul and Shorter were the only permanent members: other musicians included bassists Miroslav Vitous, Alphonso Johnson, Jaco Pastorius and Victor Bailey; drummers Alphonse Mouzon, Eric Gravatt, Chester Thompson, Peter Erskine and Omar Hakim; and percussionists Airto Moreira, Alex Acuña and Manolo Badrena; with numerous other collaborators and guests.
Weather Report's earliest releases owe a clear debt to Miles Davis's late 60s electric style, but by the release of Mysterious Traveller in 1974, the group had arrived at a style of its own: several of the tracks depend upon propulsive rhythmic figures, with solos more explorative of mood than technical 'excellence'. In this respect they were always more artistically ambitious than the majority of other jazz fusion artists.
From Black Market (1976) until Weather Report (1982) the band's line-up was at its most stable, with Zawinul, Shorter and Pastorius remaining constant as the group's core. This period saw the release of Heavy Weather (1977), the album which brought Weather Report to its widest public awareness with the hit single Birdland.
Following Pastorius's departure, the constant revolving door of musicians, coming down from their peak of popularity, and conflicting solo projects all took an increasing toll on the band. Their final release This Is This in 1986 was dominated by Zawinul's keyboards and included solos by Carlos Santana; Shorter's saxophone was hardly to be heard at all.
A full history and discography can be found at http://www.binkie.net/wrdisc/.
The band was founded in 1970 by Joe Zawinul (keyboards) and Wayne Shorter (saxophones) following their experiences in Miles Davis's pioneering electric band of the late 60s, although they had been friends for a decade before this. Zawinul and Shorter were the only permanent members: other musicians included bassists Miroslav Vitous, Alphonso Johnson, Jaco Pastorius and Victor Bailey; drummers Alphonse Mouzon, Eric Gravatt, Chester Thompson, Peter Erskine and Omar Hakim; and percussionists Airto Moreira, Alex Acuña and Manolo Badrena; with numerous other collaborators and guests.
Weather Report's earliest releases owe a clear debt to Miles Davis's late 60s electric style, but by the release of Mysterious Traveller in 1974, the group had arrived at a style of its own: several of the tracks depend upon propulsive rhythmic figures, with solos more explorative of mood than technical 'excellence'. In this respect they were always more artistically ambitious than the majority of other jazz fusion artists.
From Black Market (1976) until Weather Report (1982) the band's line-up was at its most stable, with Zawinul, Shorter and Pastorius remaining constant as the group's core. This period saw the release of Heavy Weather (1977), the album which brought Weather Report to its widest public awareness with the hit single Birdland.
Following Pastorius's departure, the constant revolving door of musicians, coming down from their peak of popularity, and conflicting solo projects all took an increasing toll on the band. Their final release This Is This in 1986 was dominated by Zawinul's keyboards and included solos by Carlos Santana; Shorter's saxophone was hardly to be heard at all.
A full history and discography can be found at http://www.binkie.net/wrdisc/.
River People
Weather Report Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'River People' by these artists:
Madina I'll take your crystal ball And make this crystal clear, tha…
Madina Lake i'll take your crystal ball and make this crystal clear, tha…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Weather Report:
A Remark You Made [Instrumental]…
Birdland 5,000 light years from birdland But Im still preachin the rh…
Black Market The year is 1994 Black Market Records, 2001 Records, Doomsd…
Can It Be Done Can it be done? Tell me is there one Melody That's never …
Confians Confians (Mino Cinélu) Manman mwen pa plere konsa, Papa…
Teen Town Instrumental…
Thanks For The Memories Thanks for the memory Of sentimental verse, Nothing in my pu…
Thanks for the Memory Thanks for the memory Of sentimental verse, Nothing in my pu…
What Mother, mother There's too many of you crying Brother, broth…
What's Going On Mother, mother There's too many of you crying Brother, broth…
What's Going On? Mother, mother There's too many of you crying Brother, bro…
Young and Fine I must take a trip to California Is that right Beezy? And …
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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sheehy933
Never liked Jazz or Fusion until listening to River People, Black Market, Teen Town, The Chicken, etc....etc. Simply amazing music. i've been on a Weather Report binge for about a week.
If you're new to this style of music, just let it take you for the ride, you'll "get it".
Brad Gillian
You can thank the "Prince of Darkness...also known as the "Dark Prince"
dvas dvas
haha nice bro/sister! This gave me a big smile!
gary krebs
a lot of us have been on such a binge for close to 50 years now.cheers.
aakkoin
The musicianship is insane, it's art
JAMES ZOND
back in the late 70s and early 80s was the best I could right down to the Village in New york Jaco and many others would just be there Jamming out in some of the old Jazz Hangouts
Aaron Hayson
This is what happens when you have 4 phenomenal players at the top of their game on one song. Its genius, its beautiful, its the human potential fully realized...
aakkoin
Erskine is great
Clifton Cameron
Aaron, this is as real as it gets. You're on it. Unbelievable. The potential for humankind is tremendous.
OxFan
Could barely keep that bass riff up for 8 seconds let alone 8 minutes! Jaco is the man!!!