BLACK MARKET

An album that definitely should get more recognition on this site. I found myself surprised when I realised that Weather Report had so few reviews on a site like this. By now, I can't find any explanation for this, but all I can say is that this band, and specially this album should get much more recognition on ProgArchives.

Concerning to "Black Market", it's a fantastic jazz rock journey, with, of course, impeccable latinesque percussion. When listening to this album, I realised how inspired were the guys to create something so good, and, while not being very technical or complex, everything is put on its right place, and I had enjoyed it a lot. We all know the extremely high caliber of the musicians: GOD Jaco Pastorius, Shorter, Zawinul, Acuña, Johnson, the great Chester Thompson, and others, who had all the inspiration needed to create a masterpiece of this caliber. It is relatively easy listening, while compared to technical proggy jazz rock like RTF's "Romantic Warrior", and when you get totally into the music, your head will be blown away!

Well, about the music: everything here is very good, but the highlights to me are: the tremendous opener, the classic "Black Market", which some memorable melodies and strong solo moments, 'eargasm' moments; "Cannon Ball" which is a quiet relaxing spacey song, that contrasts very good with the power of the opener and the follower, with another great melody; "Gibraltar" IS a total masterpiece of the genre, it's almost impossible to describe it, let the music speak for itself and blow your head away!; "Elegant People" is specially enjoyable and very, very well composed, with amazing sax work; "Barbary Coast" starts with a memorable bass riff, and groovy God Jaco's bass lines all over the song, with great improvised solos.

Overall, this is a must for any good music lover, specially those into the Fusion genre. And the bass work here is one of the greatest things that have ever happened to the instrument. MASTERPIECE!

Rating: 4.8/5

Jaco R.I.P.