The tape is the band's get-go that predominantly uses electrical bass as well as incorporates liberal uses of funk, R&B grooves, as well as stone that would afterwards endure hallmarked every bit the band's "signature" sound. Also, the to a greater extent than restricted compositional format became evident on this album, replacing the to a greater extent than "open improvisation" formats used on the get-go 3 albums. It was voted every bit the album of the twelvemonth past times the readers of Down Beat for 1974, garnering their s overall win inwards that category, besides garnering a five-star review from that publication along the way.
Weather Report's 4th recording finds Wayne Shorter (on soprano as well as tenor) taking a lesser purpose every bit Joe Zawinul begins to actually dominate the group's sound. Most selections besides include bassist Alphonso Johnson as well as drummer Ishmael Wilburn although the personnel shifts from rail to track. "Nubian Sundance" adds several vocalists piece "Blackthorn Rose" is a Shorter-Zawinul duet. Overall the music is pretty stimulating as well as sometimes adventurous; high-quality fusion from 1974.
In 1974, 3 years after the band's inception, Weather Report became i of the world's well-nigh pop jazz groups due to their uncompromising originality as well as musicianship. This was the twelvemonth that founding fellow member Miroslav Vitous was replaced past times Alphonso Johnson, who became a critical property every bit both a fluid, creative bassist as well as a composer. Drummer Ishmael Wilburn as well as Brazilian percussionist Dom Um Romao, amongst a shifting cast of supporting players, set the foundation for the band's well-nigh exciting incarnation yet. The overdue reissue of Mysterious Traveller is a welcome acknowledgement of this mid-period lineup's importance inwards the development of fusion.
This album contains to a greater extent than or less of the Report's well-nigh pop works, chiefly the long opener "Nubian Sundance." The audio of cheering crowds (apparently tacked on inwards the studio to imitate a alive performance) nevertheless seems a fleck presumptuous today, but the overall functioning is sure worth cheering. Zawinul's weirdly nonsensical vocals appear a precursor to Pat Metheny's wordless singing, as well as they add together a witty flavour to the tune. "Cucumber Slumber" is to a greater extent than or less other perennial favorite which gives Johnson the peril to function out the funk via slides as well as double-stops. The skulking championship rail brings much fun every bit well, amongst Shorter squeaking out alarums inwards the alley. The bass as well as sax accept a java suspension on "Jungle Book," leaving Zawinul amongst 2 percussionists to carve out an inarguable masterpiece. His might to computer program the synthesizers to accommodate his vision was ever commutation to the WR sound, as well as this rail was the ultimate realization of his artistry.
The disc is admittedly uneven at times, a peril run past times whatsoever ensemble that chews at boundaries every bit much every bit the Report. "American Tango," for example, is rather inconsequential inwards the large pic despite its interesting textures. It's an ironic bye for Vitous every bit his bandmates had bigger fish to fry. "Scarlet Woman" is disconcerting on the get-go few listens, every bit Shorter as well as Zawinul coughing out sinuous lines sporadically over a cyberspace of near-silence. On the other hand, the sax/piano twain "Blackthorn Rose" is both gorgeous as well as rejuvenating every bit a modify of stride from the electronic effluvium.
Zawinul's motto for the grouping was "We ever solo, nosotros never solo." The especial combination of liberty as well as composition that Weather Report consistently achieved on tape amply testifies to that philosophy, as well as Mysterious Traveller is a quintessential slice of evidence.
Mysterious Traveller was Weather Report's 4th studio album as well as the successor to Sweetnighter, I Sing The Body Electric as well as the eponymous get-go album (Live In Tokyo was solely of late released inwards total exterior Japan).
"Nubian Sundance" kicks inwards difficult amongst 2 drummers as well as a percussionist, but there's a curious feeling of suspension, akin to watching Muybridge's Equus caballus forever galloping but never moving forward. On tumble out of this, bass, a lot of Rhodes, synthesizers, crowd sounds as well as vocals create a wonderful impression of a neon-lit rainforest peopled past times Rio carnival celebrants.
After the festival comes "American Tango"; a to a greater extent than reflective stride similar wandering inwards the shadows of a Mediterranean sidestreet, the keyboard tune languorous every bit sleepy sexual activity inwards morn sunlight. "Cucumber Slumber" (what non bad titles they had!) is all electrical bass, sax, Rhodes as well as chugging drums.
"Mysterious Traveller" slips inwards spookily as well as thus revs upwards to a rhythmic workout that recalls Sweetnighter. After all the coloring as well as wonderful grandstanding of the previous 4 tracks, the acoustic twain of "Blackthorn Rose" betwixt Wayne Shorter as well as Joe Zawinul arrives similar a welcome, meditative oasis.
"Scarlet Woman" steals inwards amongst a plangent sax call, muted desert drum as well as synthesized air current as well as slow steals away again. The album closes amongst the reflective "Jungle Book", every bit if recalling the events of a long hot 24-hour interval after the Sun has set.
On Mysterious Traveller Weather Report were clearly growing, employing a wider palette of sounds, conjuring dissimilar moods: the music is sunnier, to a greater extent than upbeat, colourful as well as funky than its predecessors.
Early copies of the album practice non listing "Cucumber Slumber" on the dorsum comprehend or inner sleeve, as well as listing "Jungle Book" every bit the concluding rail of side i rather than side two. However, well-nigh known copies of the album include the 7 tracks inwards the guild listed above. One exception is the cassette release, amongst "Blackthorn Rose" every bit the mo rail of side i as well as "American Tango" every bit the mo rail of side two.
The Mastersound SBM edition of Mysterious Traveller includes a previously unreleased song, "Miroslav's Tune", every bit a bonus rail at the terminate of the album.
The album peaked at #2 inwards the Billboard Jazz album chart, #31 inwards the R&B album chart, as well as #46 inwards the Billboard 200 chart.
Track listing:
1. "Nubian Sundance" (Zawinul) – 10:40
2. "American Tango" (VitouÅ¡, Zawinul) – 3:40
3. "Cucumber Slumber" (Johnson, Zawinul) – 8:22
4. "Mysterious Traveller" (Shorter) – 7:21
5. "Blackthorn Rose" (Shorter) – 5:03
6. "Scarlet Woman" (Johnson, Shorter, Zawinul) – 5:46
7. "Jungle Book" (Zawinul) – 7:25
Personnel:
Josef Zawinul - Electric as well as acoustic piano, synthesizer, guitar, kalimba, organ, tamboura, clay drum, tack piano, melodica
Wayne Shorter - Soprano as well as tenor saxophone, tack piano
Miroslav Vitouš - Upright bass (track 2 only)
Alphonso Johnson - Bass guitar
Ishmael Wilburn - Drums
Skip Hadden - Drums (tracks 1 as well as 4 only)
Dom Um Romão - Percussion, drums
Guest musicians:
Ray Barretto - Percussion (track 3)
Meruga Booker aka Muruga Booker - Percussion (track 1)
Steve Little - Timpani (track 6)
Don Ashworth - Ocarinas as well as woodwinds (track 7)
Isacoff - Tabla, finger cymbals (track 7)
Edna Wright - Vocalists (track 1)
Marti McCall - Vocalists (track 1)
Jessica Smith - Vocalists (track 1)
James Gilstrap - Vocalists (track 1)
Billie Barnum - Vocalists (track 1)
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