Customer Reviews

Black Market

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Weather Report's second "phase" (1973-76) established its (now famous) sound, variously characterized by:

1. Mysterious and ethereal compositions
2. Funky rhythm & blues "grooves"
3. Elaborate electronic textures
4. Virtuoso supporting musicians
5. Influence of diverse musical cultures

"BLACK MARKET" (1976) evinces a maturity of approach, the band consolidating artistic gains from previous years by constructing a unified group of suite-like musical landscapes that draw on elements of jazz, funk and "world music".

The opener ( "Black Market" ), with its infectious melodic "hook", radiates a positive, life-affirming warmth (nice solos and firm, funky rhythmic support) while the closing moments provide a sobering contrast: synthesized imitations of gun and artillery fire reflecting the tragedy of strife endemic (then and now) in many parts of the war-torn "third world".

"Cannonball" is a tribute to (then recently deceased) Julian Adderley, the famous alto saxophonist/bandleader who was Joe Zawinul's former employer. The tune, while pleasant enough, is somewhat lightweight: its streamlined style and overtly sentimental melody presage similar material to follow on their next ( and most famous ) album "Heavy Weather" ( note that Jaco Pastorius' recorded debut with WR took place on "Cannonball" ).

"Gibraltar" opens to sounds of the portside city (waves & foghorns) and softly evocative soprano sax before giving way to a prototypical Weather Report groove superbly laid down by bassist Alphonso Johnson.

Wayne Shorter's "Elegant People" is one of the perennial Weather Report favorites with its feeling of romantic intrigue and flamenco influenced (Phrygian) cadences (yet another infectious thematic "hook" and some impassioned tenor sax by Shorter).

The other Shorter tune on the album ("Three Clowns") is a bizarre "funhouse" ballad, with the composer playing a synthesized wind instrument ("Lyricon").

The final two pieces are both composed by bassists:

Jaco Pastorius' "Barbary Coast" is a brief, funky and somewhat meandering piece.

Alphonso Johnson's "Herandnu" is an interesting tune; a rolling, calliope-sounding theme in alternating time signatures morphing into an up-tempo fusion feature for some keyboard improv by Zawinul (who paraphrases his own "Black Market" at one point). The theme briefly returns before the ghostly eeriness of a 45 second coda.

"BLACK MARKET" was the summation of a musical path established in the 3 preceding albums, which while exhibiting many traits from the previous period also pointed towards the more streamlined direction they would take in their most popular phase (w/ Jaco Pastorius as a dynamic influence). While the group recorded a lot of good music and gained a much-deserved fame in the following years, the 4 albums Weather Report recorded from 1973 to 1976 stand as their most consistently creative efforts.

Addendum 1: The advertising sticker put by Columbia Records on the latest version of "BLACK MARKET" claims that it features Jaco Pastorius. While this is true, it should be noted that Alphonso Johnson plays bass on 4 of the 6 tracks.

Addendum 2: The 24-bit remastered sound is superb. WR fans should strongly consider replacing the older versions with these new editions, which are definite improvements.

In their 15-year career, Weather Report managed to release over a dozen albums, and not one of them is bad. However, the most interesting ones to the listen are the "transitional" albums that capture the band in the midst of a change. Not only is Black Market one of these albums, it is also among their best. It was recorded using two drummers and two bassists, and marks the first Weather Report recording with Mr. Jaco Pastorius (although Jaco only appears on two out of seven cuts. The other five feature ex-bassist Alphonso Johnson). Alex Acuna, the man behind the kit for WR's breakthrough album, Heavy Weather, also debuts as a memeber of the fusion band here. Track by track this record is phenomenal.

"Black Market"- Alphonso lays down an ultra-funky groove to give the album one hip start.

"Cannon Ball"- A great song for two reasons. One, it is a Joe Zawinul ballad, and that is reason enough to label it a masterpiece (think of "Orange Lady" or "A Remark You Made"). It is dedicated to the late alto saxophonist Cannonball Adderley. This is also Jaco's first appearance on the record.

"Gibraltar"- An amazingly exsquisite piece by Zawinul. It starts out as a breathtaking journey, then switches to a pure fusion ditty.

"Elegant People"- Wayne Shorter's shining moment on this record. His tenors and altos have never sounded so sweet. I've had the good fortune to snag a videotape performance of the band circa 1976, and the song is beautifully preformed on it.

"Three Clowns"- Another Shorter piece, and although it is good, it's just not terribly exciting.

"Barbary Coast"- This brief, bass-driven piece is almost specifically a way to introduce the amazing talents of Jaco Pastorius. His singing fretless bass goes from funk to jazz to rock to everything inbetween.

"Hernandu"- Written by the departing bassist Alphonso Johnson, "Hernandu" is actually the album's high point. It is beautifully written, and is a wonderful goodbye to an incredible bass player.

Of the whole 'Jaco Period' (Black Market to the 2nd self-titled album), most argue that the band's greatest work is 1977's Heavy Weather. However, if you want to listen to some less structured and more funky songs, and if you want to say goodbye and hello to two fantastic bassists, Black Market is the album for you.

I'm guessing that most people reading this are already familiar with the excellent music on this CD. You're probably also familiar with the irritating music industry practice of issuing a medicore mix of a great recording and later issuing a "new and improved" edition. However, I have to admit that the recent Columbia/Sony remasters of Weather Report's mid-70's albums are phenomenal. The clarity, warmth, and imaging are the best I've heard from any remastered recording. In fact, the sound quality is better than some CD's I've heard that were recorded in the last year or two. If you're a Weather Report fan, you'll love this remastered edition of Black Market. The new remasters of Tale Spinnin' and Mysterious Traveller are just as good.

. . . for my criminal neglect of Weather Report. Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.

My only defense, a weak one, I admit, is that I was on some kind of Journey morphing from a country/roots/rock guy to a jazz guy, and this transcendent band just fell through the cracks. Or, I just wasn't mature enough to recognize genius at the callow age of 31. Whatever. Instead of listening to this transcendent music, I was into Russ Freeman, Dan Siegel, and Susan Ciani (gulp). Where was I at, man?

I'm just glad I got out of that phase, and, thanks to a few spectacular discs which I, deo volente, stumbled into (most notably, Everything Is Changed by Kirk Lightsey and Light in Your Eyes by Andy Narell) Real Jazz, aka, creative improvised music, became my listening MO.

I have to admit, chagrined, that my path would've been worlds easier had I encountered this glorious music at that time (late seventies).

But you know what? My ears probably weren't big enough back then to appreciate it. It has only been through a long, ardous process that I have come, full circle, to this ravishing, fabulous music.

Thank goodness, I'm now equipped to properly appreciate it.

I said in my review of Heavy Weather that it was the greatest Weather Report disc. Wrong again. It's Black Market. A tad less accessible than Heavy Weather, it more than makes up for it by its mystery quotient, studio production values, and some je ne sais qua of serendipitous musical planet alignment.

So what if Jaco wasn't fully integrated into the mix (plays on only two cuts)? Is someone gonna seriously argue that Alphonso Johnson screws up? I don't think so. So what if it's a transitional disc? Can't those rule?

Listen. The proof's in the listening. They just got everything right here. If you don't own this disc, rectify the gigantic hole in your jazz repertoire NOW. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200. Drop everything. GET THIS DISC.

Much has been made of Jaco Pastorius's impact when he joined Weather Report in 1976, in time for two tunes on this album. Some cite his inclusion into the band as the addition of a third creative voice that had been missing since Miroslav Vitous was a member. Some say that when Pastorius joined, Weather Report took a wrong turn in its musical direction, and that it's his fault. I really don't think either is the case; Jaco was indeed a third voice, at times redefining the bass's role to be a melodic instrument rather than accompaniment, but Alphonso Johnson, the bassist present for most of this album, is by no means a weak link or a missing voice that should have spoken. As for Jaco steering Weather Report down the wrong road, this is simply not true. For those who find later Weather Report ("Heavy Weather" and especially the albums after it) to be inferior, this is more aptly attributed to the fact that co-leaders Wayne Shorter and especially Joe Zawinul were having an increasingly difficult time coming up with creative new material. Jaco did not kill Weather Report; he merely joined at its peak and was with the band as it began to taper off in creativity. He did have the good fortune (or maybe it's our fortune) to be present on "Heavy Weather" and "Night Passage," two fantastic albums.

But for my money, the best unit Weather Report ever had was the one present on most of this album: Wayne Shorter on saxophone, Joe Zawinul on keyboards and synthesizers (and synthesizers, and synthesizers, and more synthesizers), Alphonso Johnson on bass, Chester Thompson on drums, and Alejandro Neciosup Acuna on percussion. Of all the drummers to play with Weather Report, Chester Thompson was the only one to really light a fire under the rest of the band and push it forward. This is his only studio album with the band and I believe the musicianship is at its highest due to his presence. He and bassist Johnson were apparently good friends and their rapport really propels the band to new rhythmic heights. Then Acuna is great here on auxiliary percussion (Shorter in particular seemed to like him a lot, based on what I've read) though he was never able to push and energize the band in the drum chair that he would occupy for the next album, at least not to the level Thompson does on tracks like "Elegant People." Incidentally, there is some phenomenal live material by this edition of the band on "Live and Unreleased" which begs the question why it wasn't released before, a la "8:30" by a later unit.

To complement the fantastic band assembled here, this album features some of the catchiest and memorable material, if not always the most creative, that the band ever recorded. As mentioned, "Elegant People" cooks and yet is beautiful and funky all wrapped into one package, and it gives Shorter some good solo space. The title track is funky (listen to how well Johnson grooves and even if you've heard Jaco, you won't miss him) and worldly. "Three Clowns" is one of the only ballads the band did that manages to not remind the listener of Kenny G (though it was never Weather Report's fault that some of the ballads did...it's Kenny G's fault for taking this beautiful music and watering it down to fit his utter lack of creativity). Then "Barbary Coast," one of two tracks on which Pastorius plays, features the funkiest bass playing on the planet, while breaking free of any kind of repetition or stagnancy associated with funk bass playing. Taken as a whole, the material on this album tells a story through its world themes and styles, and sound effect transitions. In a musical climate 30 years later which values one-hit wonders surrounded by 19 other fluff songs, this consistent quality and unity of material is extremely refreshing.

I've read that this album isn't considered as accessible as "Heavy Weather" but I wholeheartedly disagree. This music can be appreciated on many levels: it's danceable and funky, non-intrusive, and yet deep enough and done in enough colors to maintain interest. Plus the musicianship is phenomenal. Start here for a good introduction to Weather Report, especially if you are coming from a rock or pop music background.

I've been listening to this album for 24 years now. Arguably the best fusion band of all time. This music is old but it does not sound dated.

There are few albums that hold up to repeat listenings, year after year. The seventies were an amazing time for jazz/fusion: Return to Forever, Mahavishnu Orchestra. I thought I'd heard it all until this album came out. The musical invention soars on this record combining funk, world, jazz, fusion. Jaco, Zawinul, Alphonso and Shorter are amazing, but give credit to Chester Thompson, Michael Walden and Acuna. They help take this musical excursion to another rhythmic level. As an aside, I remember the prof of my college classical music appreciation class inviting his students to bring in a representative sample of what we were listening to at the time. He played Black Market for the class and thought so highly of it that he recommended it! Great music is great music!

I've been thoroughly impressed with my experience with the Weather Report so far. Every one of their songs focuses on melodic and instrumental jazzy jams, and every time I hear a track from one of their classic albums, it just gets better and better the more I hear it.

Now I probably prefer Return to Forever because I feel they write slightly more interesting, fascinating and adventurous songs (a matter of opinion of course) but that doesn't mean I can't appreciate the Weather Report's accomplishments and sometimes put these guys on the same level.

Black Market is easily a 5-star album to me. Whether this kind of music is considered jazz, rock, or some other musical genre that's not entering my head at the moment, the fact remains that music like this doesn't really occur anymore. At least, not with the kind of creativity and adventurous scope of talent that these guys brought to the table.

I recommend everything from the mid 70's that the Weather Report has released. Then pick up some Return to Forever albums released from the same time period to hear music that's equally as breathtakingly awesome.

This 1976 release is an exceptionally fine album by Weather Report and features great consistency in spite of a large and revolving cast of musicians, including two drummers (Chester Thompson and Narada Michael Walden), two percussionists (Don Alias and Alejandro Acuna) and two bassists (Alphonso Johnson and Jaco Pastorius). Speaking of which, this was the first Weather Report album to feature brilliant virtuoso bassist Jaco Pastorius and he appears on the atmospheric Cannon Ball. In addition, one of his compositions appears on the album (Barbary Coast). While not the most developed track, the propulsive and bouncy Barbary Coast does feature his innovative, groundbreaking techniques on the electric bass guitar. As a bassist, I am always dazzled by his technique, regardless of how many times I listen to his playing.

Overall, the songwriting and arranging on Black Market is top notch and both Zawinul and Shorter are in great form here. The tunes are very vibrant, feature some intricate ensemble playing and also explore the moodier/atmospheric side of things as well. The moody/atmospheric side of things is enhanced with Joe's use of synthesizers (Oberheim polyphonic and (2) ARP 2600 synthesizers), which are used very tastefully on this album. In that I also enjoy European progressive rock and electronica, the synthesizers really worked for me. Wayne Shorter (soprano and tenor saxophones, "Lyricon") also turns in some excellent performances on this album.

This remastered album is pretty good and features decent sound quality and informative liner notes written by Hal Miller that discuss each track.

All in all, this is an excellent album of jazz rock by Weather Report that was the first to feature Jaco Pastorius as a band member. Black Market is highly recommended along with the follow-up (and highly popular) Heavy Weather (1977), which features Jaco as a full band member, in addition to Night Passage (1980).

Black Market and Mysterious Traveler have always been my favorite Weather Report albums, and I've had them since they came out on LP in the mid 1970's. Those two albums truly encompass everything that was great and special about this band and their "sound", which really had to be experienced live to be appreciated. Jazz, funk, world music, exotic rhythms, weird, eerie and mysterious sounds, they're all here on this great album. Great bass playing by both Alphonso Johnson (on the "stick" bass) and also Jaco Pastorius (his first album with Weather Report). Fantastic compositions by Shorter and Zawinul (THE LENNON AND MCARTNEY OF JAZZ FUSION MUSIC).