Weather Report – The Legendary Live Tapes 1978-1981 (2015) [HDTracks FLAC 24bit/96kHz]

Weather Report – The Legendary Live Tapes 1978-1981 (2015)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 4:07:25 minutes | 5,29 GB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Master, Official Digital Download – Source: HDTracks | Label: Columbia/Legacy

Weather Report’s The Legendary Live Tapes features four discs of sensational unreleased performances all “completely, totally, unapologetically and insanely live” recorded by the legendary jazz group from 1978 to 1981. This package uniquely showcases Weather Report’s extensive prowess as a band, opting not to replicate the ebb and flow of a standard Weather Report set at the time, instead offering a uniquely curated experience that captures the dazzling directions the group took at the arguable height of their powers.

These four discs offer completely unreleased performances by the Weather Report lineup of keyboardist Joe Zawinul, saxophonist Wayne Shorter, bassist Jaco Pastorius, drummer Peter Erskine, and a bit later, percussionist Bobby Thomas, Jr. It was compiled for release by Erskine (whose historical essay and annotated track notes are fantastic) and Tony Zawinul, Joe’s son. These are mostly soundboard cassettes made by WR’s longtime live sound engineer Brian Risner, with choice audience tapes and commercial mobile rig selections mixed in. While it (mostly) sounds like an excellent bootleg, the sound here is remarkable given the root sources. Similar to 2002’s Live and Unreleased, the material is not arranged chronologically. Disc one begins with the quintet in 1980/1981; disc four is from the quartet in 1978, and it skips around in between. The sequencing is peculiar to Erskine’s and Zawinul’s personal notions about what best constituted raw evidence of the band’s collective ability on any given night of a tour – warts and all. (An example is the inclusion of an abrupt, incomplete “Jaco’s Solo” on disc one. It’s here as a metaphor for the bassist’s mercurial personality and the gap his absence leaves, but it’s too much of a quirk for most listeners. (Thankfully, there is a full, more inspired version on disc four from 1978.) But the many highlights offset these moments. On disc one, “Brown Street” is taken from a rehearsal vastly overdubbed later for 8:30; the root version is revelatory. The scorching medley of “Badia/Boogie Woogie Waltz” is fiery and intense – tape collectors feel free to compare. Shorter’s brief quote from “What’s Goin’ On” in “The Orphan” reveals how much R&B was part of his playing during this period, and his seven-plus-minute solo spot is magnificent. Disc two offers a gorgeous medley of Pastorius’ “Continuum”/”River People” – played in his hometown of Philly – and is followed by a 21-minute, newly discovered “Gibraltar” from Erskine’s second gig with WR. Disc three by the quintet is from 1980-1981 and contains excellent performances of “Madagascar,” followed by a hard-grooving “Night Passage.” (The latter tune was eventually dropped from public performance.) These tracks – plus two more – are from proper mobile recording equipment and as such they stand out. A spacy bebop reading of Duke Ellington’s “Rockin’ in Rhythm” precedes a ragged “Port of Entry” – the only known version recorded by the quartet (just prior to Thomas’ joining). The final disc offers long, kinetic versions of “Elegant People,” “Scarlet Woman,” and “Black Market,” as well as a raucous “Teen Town” and a spacy, dubby version of “Directions.” While The Legendary Live Tapes, 1978-81 is a glimpse of the complex, multifaceted – and controversial – persona that was WR, it is a long and fruitful one. It showcases the band at their jazz-funk best with improvisational and collective intuitive chops usually on stun. Hopefully there is more where this came from.

Tracklist:
01 – 8:30
02 – Sightseeing
03 – Brown Street
04 – The Orphan
05 – Forlorn
06 – Three Views of a Secret
07 – Medley: Badia / Boogie Woogie Waltz
08 – Wayne Solo
09 – Jaco Solo (Osaka 1980)
10 – Joe and Wayne Duet (Tokyo 1978)
11 – Birdland
12 – Peter’s Solo (Drum Solo)
13 – A Remark You Made
14 – Continuum / River People
15 – Gibraltar
16 – Fast City
17 – Madagascar
18 – Night Passage
19 – Dream Clock
20 – Rockin’ In Rhythm
21 – Port of Entry
22 – Elegant People
23 – Scarlet Woman
24 – Black Market
25 – Jaco Solo (Osaka 1978)
26 – Teen Town
27 – Peter’s Drum Solo (Osaka 1978)
28 – Directions