SWEETNIGHTER

After two of what I would call (classic) avant-fusion albums, which were heavily leaned towards the "teachings" of Miles Davis 69-70 class, Weather Report got kind of bored of following the master's footsteps and approached their music in a funkier way.

Don't expect a rival to Hancock and The Headhunters though, Joe & Co. weren't playing that kind of jazz funk, Sweetnighter is still pretty much improvisational but with much more groove than the band used to show. All this is thanks to Zawinul's wah-wah electric piano, creating both, catchy interplay between the other band members and some great ambiences that Joe already started demonstrating on In a Silent Way, back then with an organ.

However, this is not something out of this world, it's good alright and original, but it tends to drag a bit with the samey use of electric piano all throughout the record, the same problem that Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy (also released in 1973 and also featured a cloud with the band members as the cover art) had in which Chick Corea only had the Fender Rhodes thus making it rather monotonic.

3.5 stars: What is really good of this album is that it's a transitional album, anticipating the band's future accessible fusion but still evoking past teachings, and because of that it can appeal to fans of both eras. Mind you, since this album is original and not much fusion sounds like this, it's an album that all serious fusion should check out.

Share this WEATHER REPORT review

Social review comments () BETA

---

---

Review related links

• Send comments to The Quiet One
• Report this review (#381383)
• Buy WEATHER REPORT music online with PA partners
• Show all WEATHER REPORT MP3/Stream
• Go to WEATHER REPORT page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Sweetnighter page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for WEATHER REPORT related discussions