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Weather Report

1983

Review by Gary Hill
There are definitely some issues with the packaging on this. The title is "1983," but the picture inside the gatefold includes Jaco Pastorius who was out of the group in 1982. The other pictures on the cover are a little hard for me to see, so I can't tell if any of them actually have the '83 lineup on them. I also can't be sure that these recordings are from 1983 because there are really no liner notes.

There are no issues with the music. All the live recordings here feature amazing fusion musicianship and arrangements. Weather Report were always among the best, and this album shows why. There are some tape issues on the first track that mar it to some degree, but none of the rest of the disc have those types of problems. All in all, this is a set that seems like it might be unauthorized because of the packaging, but a disc that features some amazing music.

This review is available in book (paperback and hardcover) form in Music Street Journal: 2024  Volume 4. More information and purchase links can be found at: garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2024.
Track by Track Review
Fast City
Drums start this nearly 11-minute track off. The rest of the group drive in after a short time, and we're taken out into some killer fusion jamming that's crazed and suitably weird at times. There are some serious sound issues on this recording, with the volume level alternating up and down in a very annoying way. That's a shame because the performance is awe-inspiring. Fortunately those problems seem to go away after a while. There is a dropped back movement as the track approaches the halfway mark. The tape issues return during that keyboard heavy movement. There is a drum solo around the three-quarter mark of the piece that is extensive. I would say that the sound issues are pretty bad, but they are present for quite a bit less than half the track, helping to make it more listenable.
db Waltz
There is a real rhythmic dominance early on in this number. The track is less crazed than the opener was. The sound quality is more pristine, too. This is much less intense than the song that preceded it, but it's no less interesting or effective. At over 17-minutes long, this the epic of the set, and it's a killer ride They cover a lot of musical territory and it gets pretty driving at times. There are some world music vocals at times on this number.
Blue Sound Note
This comes in slower moving and more restrained. It turns kind of trippy and freeform later as this continues to evolve. This thing remains on the mellower side, but it is also spacey and strange in its explorations. It's all class. In fact, this is one of my favorite pieces here. At over 11-and-a-half minutes music, this is another epic.
Molasses Run
The bass work as this gets underway is purely on fire. Then again, so are all the other performances. This works through some killer fusion jams as it continues marching forward. There is some seriously powerhouse stuff in the mix on this tune.
Plaza Real
This jam has some hints of funk at time. It's a rather experimental jam, but it's also rooted in more mainstream jazz sound.
Where The Moon Goes
Percussion gets things going here. The track works out from there gradually, with the bass joining first to complete the rhythm section. There are some driving elements on this track as it continues along with some trippy things at play. This is another that has vocals. There is a percussion workout section further down the road. That gets punctuated by some keyboard showcases.
 
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