"Boogie Woogie Waltz" was often inward the band's alive sets through the 1970s, in addition to a alive version from 1978 appeared on the album 8:30. Also inward 1978, Vitouš recorded a novel version of "Will" amongst Terje Rypdal in addition to Jack DeJohnette on their collective album for ECM.
Right from the start, a vastly dissimilar Weather Report emerges here, i that reflects co-leader Joe Zawinul's developing obsession amongst the groove. It is the groove that rules this mesmerizing album, leading off amongst the irresistible 3/4 marathon deceptively tagged equally the "Boogie Woogie Waltz" in addition to proceeding through a multifariousness of Latin-grounded hip-shakers. It is a tape of regain for Zawinul, who augments his Rhodes electrical pianoforte amongst a funky wah-wah pedal, unveils the ARP synthesizer equally a melodic musical instrument in addition to sound-effects device, in addition to often coasts along on i chord. The i time fiery Wayne Shorter has been tamed, for he at nowadays contributes to a greater extent than often than non sustained ethereal tunes on soprano sax, his musical note sometimes doubled for a pleasing octave effect. The wane of freewheeling ensemble interplay is to a greater extent than than offset past times the big growth inward rhythmic push; bassist Miroslav Vitous, drummer Eric Gravatt, in addition to percussionist Dom Um Romao are at nowadays cogs inward i of jazz's keen swinging machines.
“I don’t know what the side past times side tape volition be,” Josef Zawinul said inward the summertime of 1972, “but it’ll go something else! We’ve been learning every night, in addition to we’re yet growing.”
Indeed, Sweetnighter was something else. Zawinul began to assert greater command of band, steering it away from the collective improvisation that marked its alive performances toward to a greater extent than structured compositions emphasizing funk in addition to groove. This was exemplified past times the album’s 2 dominant tracks, “Boogie Woogie Waltz” in addition to “125th Street Congress,” equally good equally the closer, “Non-Stop Home.” Other tracks were reminiscent of Weather Report’s previous albums, making Sweetnighter a transition from the band’s initiative of all stage to what i mightiness telephone telephone its mature phase.
The 1970's was a really interesting fourth dimension for Jazz music. The i time traditional fundamentals of Jazz were at nowadays beingness ignored, equally musicians began incorporating aspects of other genres into their music. These novel heretical ideas expanded the conventions of Jazz amongst improvisatory in addition to experimental approaches, providing the genre amongst endless possibilities for novel techniques in addition to alterations. The Weather Report is i of the few musical groups that fully examined all of the dissimilar templates that served equally defining characteristics of early on Jazz Fusion. Their initiative of all 2 albums, Weather Report in addition to I Sing The Body Electric, explored the to a greater extent than progressive aspects of Jazz Fusion, equally the musical orchestrations embraced the usage of ambient effects in addition to complex instrumental passages.
Sweetnighter, on the other hand, is a reflection of a novel tendency that was outset to go really prominent inward the Jazz Fusion scene. Albums similar Miles Davis' On The Corner in addition to Herbie Hancock's Head Hunters began incorporating Funk elements into their typical Jazz routines, introducing a audio that emphasized to a greater extent than on rhythmic grooves rather than elaborate soloistic musicianship. In "Boogie Woogie Waltz", nosotros run into a completely dissimilar musical mode that nosotros had never heard inward the previous efforts past times The Weather Report. Joe Zawinul's synthesizer instantly asserts itself equally the centerpiece of the music, deploying an eminent usage of Wah-wah effects to create a propulsive rhythmic framework for the other instruments. Wayne Shorter's saxophone sets out on its ain musical expeditions, delivering solos that non exclusively compliment Joe Zawinul's synthesizer, but equally good manages to distinguish itself past times voyaging along on its ain melodies. The vocal equally good features a dominating percussive arrangement, using maracas in addition to conga drumbeats to aid render a really Latin-influenced groove.
"125th Street Congress" farther expands on this novel in addition to to a greater extent than conventional musical style, but is approached amongst a really dissimilar concept. This time, Miroslav Vitouš' basslines dominate the administration of the music, amongst the other instruments serving to compliment the framework of the groove. This is sure enough i of the major highlights of the album equally the music induces a really infectious melodic atmosphere that is only impossible to non lose yourself in. "Manolete" is i of the few songs that manages to deviate from the to a greater extent than funkier subject of the album. "Manolete" is, for the most part, a render to the roots of traditional Jazz. Eric Gravatt dictates the beat of the vocal amongst unopen to actually captivating in addition to bombastic drumbeats. Wayne Shorter's saxophone takes the Pb equally it carries us along, spell mesmerizing us amongst such exquisite musicianship. But equally nosotros approach the climax, nosotros get to consider the vocal acquire inward into a to a greater extent than abstract territory, amongst Joe Zawinul providing unopen to actually disorienting psychedelic flourishes.
"Non-Stop Home" serves equally a genuinely mesmerizing postlude. This is i of the few times that The Weather Report channel the experimental tendencies of their previous albums. It is a descension into a really progressive environment, indulgently exuding a feel of psychedelia from every pore. Joe Zawinul, yet again, steals the spotlight amongst unopen to genuinely innovative synthesizer effects that stimulate a perceptually overwhelming feel of surrealism. In the end, Sweetnighter proves to go the exact type of album that everyone has been anticipating from The Weather Report. It's content is highly accessible, emphasizing on a to a greater extent than jubilant atmosphere, in addition to leaving behind all of the esoteric in addition to tentative musical procedures of their previous albums.
“Weather Report isn’t the initiative of all band to seek the multi-percussion trip but in addition to thus far it has been the most successful. The Grávátt-Dewllingham-Romão-Muruga squad plays to a greater extent than than polyrhythms. It blows percussion amongst the same creativity in addition to crispness that Shorter brings to his horns, Zawinul to his keyboards, Vitous to the bass. Perhaps to fifty-fifty the let out of tune players versus percussionists, Andrew White has been added on English linguistic communication horn… One interesting affair most Weather Report is that this is a band that lives betwixt categories. There are things here, equally on the previous albums, that volition select own got of a jazz audience, a stone audience, or an audience that is into classical music. And yet Weather Report is of none of these worlds–truly a band for which at that spot is no dove hole.”
“In the twelvemonth since I Sing the Body Electric, Weather Report has added an ethereal electronic lineament to its acoustic soundscape. Their music is at nowadays colored past times eerie synthesized qualities, haunted past times saxophone lyricism in addition to nervous South American rhythms. Musical thoughts are equally much implied equally real, likewise the suggestions of unusual places are both geographical in addition to neurological. Thus, Sweetnighter is strictly a travelogue of the Seventies… Weather Report’s truthful musical peers are groups similar the Mahavishnu Orchestra in addition to the Herbie Hancock Sextet. Like them, they fuse rock, jazz in addition to electronics into a descriptive music that is brilliantly innovative in addition to accessible. In this they seem to me the paradigm of a pregnant avant-garde trend.”
Track listing
"Boogie Woogie Waltz" (J. Zawinul)– 13:06
"Manolete" (W. Shorter)– 5:58
"Adios" (J. Zawinul)– 3:02
"125th Street Congress" (J. Zawinul)– 12:16
"Will" (M. VitouÅ¡)– 6:22
"Non-Stop Home" (W. Shorter)– 3:53
Personnel
Josef Zawinul – pianoforte (2-6), electrical pianoforte (1-5), synthesizer (1-2-6)
Wayne Shorter – saxophone
Miroslav VitouÅ¡ – bass (acoustic 1-2-4 & electrical 3-5)
Andrew White - bass (electric 1-4-6), english horn (3-5)
Herschel Dwellingham - drums (tracks 1-2-4-6)
Eric Gravatt - drums (tracks 2-4-6)
Moroccan Clay - drums (tracks 1-2)
Roller Toy - drums (track 3)
Israeli Jar - drums (track 4)
Muruga Booker - drums
Dom Um Romão - percussion, woods flute
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