Artist:Weather Report
Song:Rumba Mama
Album:Heavy Weather
Jazz fusion supergroup Weather Report is likely the best selling jazz group ever and Heavy Weather was their best seller. The group is seen as a spinoff of the Miles Davis Bitches Brew band because pianist Joe Zawinul (born July 7, 1932 in Vienna, Austria) & sax player Wayne Shorter (born Aug. 25, 1933 in Newark, NJ) were part of that but they first worked together in Maynard Ferguson's band in 1959. Bassist Miroslav Vitous (born Dec. 6, 1947 in Prague, Czech Republic) was the other founding member. Others on their 1970 debut were percussionist Airto and drummer Alphonse Mouzon. Weather Report was always popular with jazz fans but Zawinul & Vitous disagreed about the direction of the band. Zawinul wanted a more commercial R & B influenced sound. Vitous left in 1973 and was replaced by Alphonso Johnson who played electric bass. Dom Um Romao was percussionist and they went through more drummers than Spinal Tap. Johnson left in 1976 to join Billy Cobham's band and was replaced by Jaco Pastorius (born Dec. 1, 1951 in Norristown, PA). His first album was 1976's Black Market. Drummer Alex Acuna (born Dec. 12, 1944 in Pativilca, Peru) & percussionist Manolo Badrena (born Mar. 1952 in Puerto Rico) were brought in for Heavy Weather. With the smash hit Birdland, Heavy Weather became one of the best selling jazz albums ever. The album is short but it is available as a "twofer" with Black Market. Rumba Mama was written by Badrena. Pastorius would remain with Weather Report for four more albums and Acuna & Badrena left before 1978's Mr. Gone. Zawinul & Shorter kept Weather Report together until 1985. Jaco Pastorius died in 1987 and Joe Zawinul died in Sept. 2007 but Wayne Shorter & Miroslav Vitous are still active. Weather Report was very influential on the jazz that has followed. Here's Weather Report performing Rumba Mama in Montreux 1976.
No comments:
Post a Comment