Weather Report: River People
Track
RIver People
Group
Weather Report
CD
Mr. Gone (Columbia 468208-2)
Musicians:
Joe Zawinul (keyboards, synthesizers, vocals, percussion), Wayne Shorter (tenor sax), Jaco Pastorius (electric bass, vocals, drums, timpani).
Composed by Jaco Pastorius
.Recorded: Hollywood, CA, May 1978
Rating: 93/100 (learn more)
This is the Weather Report album that was famously dismissed by Down Beat magazine and given a one star rating. I really find it hard to believe that the critics simply couldn't get past their own egos and really listen to the music on this album (even if it was a little bit more danceable). Written by Jaco, this song has one of the more funky bass lines on the whole album and he also plays drums and timpani on the song. Pastorius was originally a drummer but switched to the bass because of a sporting accident. He sounds complete as a drummer and the track doesn't miss a beat between his bass playing and drumming. My favorite thing about this track is the hand claps. I think they are very indicative of the influence of disco and electronic music on fusion.
No Weather Report song would be complete without the dynamic duo of Zawinul and Shorter. Shorter screeches on the horn while Zawinul plays the melody and some nice pad textures. Zawinul in essence rounds out the song with his synthesizer work here. All in all, another solid track form one of jazz music's strongest groups.
Reviewer: Jared Pauley
Tags: 1970s jazz
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