Weather Report - Mysterious Traveller
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Music CD Cover
Artist: Weather ReportEdition: Music CD
Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
CD Release Date: 2002-06-04
Music Label: Sony
Soundtracks:
- Nubian Sundance
- American Tango
- Cucumber Slumber
- Mysterious Traveller
- Blackthorn Rose
- Scarlet Woman
- Jungle Book
Free Music Notes for Mysterious Traveller
Free Music Review: Lives up to expectations on all fronts
Hit: 5 Stars
When this album was released in 1974, Weather Report finally received critical acclaim for really nailing it. The first three albums were praised for their experimentation but never considered masterpieces; the unifying concept was never strong enough and thus the music was a little schizophrenic. But with this album, even Downbeat acknowledged that Wayne Shorter and Joe Zawinul had something and knew what to do with it. They had long been hailed as two of jazz's greatest geniuses, and finally they had found a mode of expression which allowed their genius to come out. Thus the critics' expectations were fulfilled.
I came to Weather Report through classic jazz via Wayne Shorter, but the first album I bought was "Heavy Weather," which came as quite a shock at first because it was so unlike traditional jazz, at least on the surface. I actually didn't like it, but then I picked it up again after a year and really listened. Thus I was able to appreciate its brilliant use of color and the integration of so many different styles of music into a whole. I decided then to start at the beginning of Weather Report's discography and work my way back up to "Heavy Weather," since it is quite far into the sequence. The first two albums, the self titled debut and "I Sing The Body Electric" were quite different than the classic Weather Report sound, but I found them to be extremely interesting experiments that my inner post-bop snob was able to appreciate. But I was disappointed in "Sweetnighter," the third album, which integrated more rock and funk elements and was supposed to be the album to define the Weather Report classic sound. "Sweetnighter" was a transitional album, due in large part to the old band not being able to cope with the new approach, especially acoustic bassist Miroslav Vitous. This led to his dismissal from the band in favor of electric bassist Alphonso Johnson, who really fit the new direction well. This album, the one to follow "Sweetnighter," is truly the first to define the Weather Report sound that would become famous. Thus, for me, this is the point in the lineage where the band stops being a "Wayne Shorter and Joe Zawinul" album and begins to be a "Weather Report" album. It was everything I expected in terms of the sound and yet still held surprises and it sounds fresh every time I listen to it. Thus my expectations were also met after worrying through the first three albums.
Many people come to earlier Weather Report in search of something that sounds like "Heavy Weather" or at least in that vein. They are often disappointed by the rough, experimental early albums, but this one is the first fully realized album. So for those who have come in through the most famous album in the discography, "Heavy Weather," this is the best place to go when looking at the earlier music, as the albums before this may be something of a turnoff (though I enjoy them).
As for the music, the aforementioned unifying concept or theme is probably stronger here than on any other Weather Report album. The album cover, a shooting star, is the first indicator of the cosmic sounds contained within. "Nubian Sundance" is an energetic yet enigmatic tune whose synthesizers make it sound like it's from another planet, yet it's grounded enough to be accessible. "Cucumber Slumber" and the title track are funky, though not as overtly as, say, Herbie Hancock. Instead, they achieve their funk through quirky rhythmic figures and sonic textures, and thus are very creative and interesting in addition to being funky. "Scarlet Woman" and "Jungle Book" are more atmospheric, with sound effects used in provocative ways supplementing simple but strong melodies. The highlight of this album for me, though, is "Blackthorn Rose," a duet between Shorter on soprano saxophone and Zawinul on synthesizers but mainly acoustic piano. In all ways, melodically, harmonically, and rhythmically, this piece is just so beautiful in unexpected and untried ways. The only detraction for me is the use of synthesizer colors interjected among the more sparse piano punctuations. They are interesting, but to hear them through the filter of today's "ambient" music makes the sounds a little dated, even if they weren't when this was recorded. Not Weather Report's fault. The only complaints I have about the program come from "American Tango," a quirky but fairly uninteresting sketch by Miroslav Vitous, who appears as a holdover on this one tune. Also, the drumming here is weaker than on other albums; the two drummers seem along for the ride instead of in the rhythmic driver's seat.
All in all, this album is fairly accessible and wouldn't be overtly offensive to any listener. Fans of classic Weather Report really come on board here and so if you liked "Black Market" and "Heavy Weather," this is the album that started that sound and is every bit as good as those two. This is not, however, a great bridge from rock to jazz, as it is more atmospheric and less funky.
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