Various Artists - 2000 "Celebrating the Music of Weather Report"

Telarc and producer Jason Miles brought in a boat-load of contemporary jazz heavyweights to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Weather Report's formation with this recording, and quite a celebration it is. Miles and his all-star cast have managed to remain true to the original music, while updating and opening up the arrangements. Tenor saxman extraordinaire Michael Brecker smokes up "Elegant People," while alto superstar David Sanborn teams up with the final Weather Report rhythm section of Victor Bailey and Omar Hakim to take a scrumptious, synth-soaked stroll through "Cannonball." Lesser known saxophonist Aaron Heick comports himself well as he fills Shorter's shoes on "Mysterious Traveller," and Spyro Gyra's Jay Beckentein turns in a lovely soprano sax lead over Joe Sample's distinctive piano on the ballad "Harlequin." "The Man in the Green Shirt" journeys to the islands courtesy of steel pan man Andy Narell. Randy Brecker's trumpet gives a new dimension to "Palladium," while Marcus Miller and John Scofield take a loping, funky trip through "Cucumber Slumber." In fact, the only complaint about this recording is that the modern synthesizers, employed a little heavy-handedly at times by Miles, have a much cheesier sound than did Joe Zawinul's bank of organic keyboards and early synths in the band's heyday. Nonetheless, this celebration offers a bevy of delights to remind old-time Weather Report fans of the band's greatness; it may even help introduce a new generation of listeners to this superb music, hopefully enticing them to check out the originals.

With a rich subject to mine and a distinctive, creative vision, the compilation Celebrating the Music of Weather Report (Telarc CD-83473; 58:30) stands a cut above the glut of all-star tribute albums currently on the market. The common thread uniting a football team-sized cast is keyboard phenom Jason Miles, who through unique arrangements of carefully chosen pieces traces the band’s evolution and highlights its influence without wandering into cliche territory. Where “Birdland” is given a whammy-bowed, rock guitar read by Chuck Loeb, with Take 6 building rich rhythms via voice, “Cannonball” finds David Sanborn belting the alto sax melody over Miles’ lovely keyboard tones and fusion-styled breaks. “Badia” boasts exotic percussion backbeat, tribal vocals and prickly mid-eastern tones, while “Harlequin” makes an unexpectedly lush, darkly romantic statement with saxophonist Jay Beckenstein at the helm. Most startling and revealing are “Mysterious Traveler,” with Miles setting a haunted, cornered keyboard tone for Aaron Heick to set aflame with multiple squealing saxes, and “Palladium,” which starts with a music-box keyboard feel before opening into a fusion storm, with Omar Hakim’s spitfire drums and Randy Brecker’s singing, sharp trumpet line.

With a huge assembly of star performers like Marcus Miller, Dennis Chambers, Jay Beckenstein etc.,the performances are top-notch, but the overall production borders on "smooth", although some of Weather Reports' catalog is quiet catchy in a "pop" kind of way and therefore lends itself to a slightly more "poppy and smooth" version of fusion jazz.

The sonics are as usual for Telarc, fantastic, and the music is perfectly suited for 5.1, and the mix does not
disappoint, with tasteful use of the surrounds for synths, percussion and "atmosphere", but the main performance is up-front.

Track Listing:

01. Birdland
02. Elegant People
03. Badia
04. Young And Fine
05. Cannonball
06. Pursuit Of The Woman With The Feathered Hat
07. Mysterious Traveller
08. Harlequin
09. Man In The Green Shirt
10. Palladium
11. Cucumber Slumber

Personnel:

- John Scofield, Chuck Loeb, Dean Brown / guitar
- Randy Brecker / trumpet
- Michael Brecker / Tenor saxophone
- David Sanborn / Alto saxophone
- Joe Sample / piano
- Victor Bailey, Mike Pope, John Patitucci, Will Lee, Marcus Miller / bass
- Dennis Chambers, Vinnie Colaiuta, Steve Gadd, Omar Hakim / drums
- Aaron Heick / Soprano & Tenor saxophones
- Jay Beckenstein / Soprano saxophone
- Jason Miles / keyboards, programming, background vocals
- Tom Schuman / synthesizer
- Andy Narell / pans
- Mark Quinones, Cyro Baptista / percussion
- Mary Fahl, Porter Carroll, Take 6 / background vocals