Weather Report: Weather Report (1971)

Weather Report: Weather Report (1971)

Originally Released in May 1971, Weather Report was the debut album by the group of the same name. The album was reissued by Columbia Records in 1992. The album was digitally remastered by Vic Anesini in November 1991 at Sony Music Studios in New York City, and then released again under the Sony International label. The style of music on this album can be described as avant-garde jazz with electric instruments. It continues the style of Miles Davis album Bitches Brew (on which Zawinul and Shorter played) but in a more ambient setting and largely acoustic.

Personnel

Joe Zawinul – Electric and acoustic piano

Wayne Shorter – Soprano saxophone

Miroslav Vitous – Electric and acoustic bass

Alphonse Mouzon – Drums, voice

Airto Moreira – Percussion

Track listing

"Milky Way" (Shorter, Zawinul) – 2:33

"Umbrellas" (Shorter, Vitous, Zawinul) – 3:27

"Seventh Arrow" (Vitous) – 5:23

"Orange Lady" (Zawinul) – 8:44

"Morning Lake" (Vitous) – 4:26

"Waterfall" (Zawinul) – 6:20

"Tears" (Shorter) – 3:25

"Eurydice" (Shorter) – 5:45

Larry Coryell: Spaces (1970)

Larry Coryell
Spaces

Vanguard (79345)
USA 1970

Larry Coryell, guitars; John McLaughlin, guitars; Miroslav Vitous, bass; Billy Cobham, drums; Chick Corea, electric piano

Tracklist:
1.  Spaces (Infinite) — 9:16
2.  Rene's Theme — 4:06
3.  Gloria's Step — 4:29
4.  Wrong is Right — 9:00
5.  Chris — 9:31
6.  New Year's Day in Los Angeles -- 1968 — 0:20

total time 36:42

Larry Coryell's Spaces is an excellent early fusion album that tends to go overlooked. Recorded in late 1969 but not released until 1974, Spaces features Coryell surrounding himself with some top talent: John McLaughlin, Billy Cobham (both later of Mahavishnu Orchestra) and Miroslav Vitous (later of Weather Report). Chick Corea joins the group on electric piano for one track, "Chris."

Truth be told, this sounds more like jazz than jazz-rock. Only the great title track has rock rhythms; the rest of it is "rock" mostly by virtue of the electric guitars (which nevertheless are set to a minimal amount of distortion). It's difficult for me to discern which guitarist is playing at any particular time, although the liner notes indicate that Coryell does the majority of the soloing. Miroslav Vitous was an excellent choice of bassist for this kind of music and he demonstrates his versatility by playing with a bow on some passages. "Chris," on which Chick Corea sits in, is another hightlight. Corea's electric piano is primarily used for atmosphere while Coryell and McLaughlin engage in some of their most diverse playing on the record, drawing on a wealth of influences in their quick-picked passages. "Renee's Theme," a tribute to jazz guitar legend Django Reinhardt, is consistently cited by fans of the album as a favorite. Somewhat different in character from the rest of the pieces, it's a fleet-fingered acoustic guitar duet with head-turning speed and precision.

It's the interweaving guitar improvisations of Coryell and McLaughlin that make Spaces such an interesting, distinctive album. I think it is one of Coryell's best releases and it makes for a good first pick when starting to explore the guitarist's large catalog.