MYSTERIOUS TRAVELLER

Although it's highly praised in fusion circles, I initially didn't find Weather Report's Mysterious Traveller to be quite the classic it's made out to be. It is, admittedly, a transitional album, in which founder member Miroslav Vitous bows out to make way for new bassist Alphonso Johnson, and in which the band begin to experiment with African-inspired rhythms. The most successful track is probably Nubian Sundance, which is genuinely exciting and engaging, but the rest of the album is extremely laid back and, at points, seems to back away from fusion entirely and edge towards more traditional jazz forms.

It was only after further digesting their prior discography that I came to appreciate how Mysterious Traveller begins to stake out a distinct musical identity for Weather Report, emerging further from the shadow of the two titanic Miles Davis albums (In a Silent Way and Bitches Brew) that key Weather Report personnel had been involved in creating, and whose style was such a huge influence on the group's early output. Yes, it's a transitional album, but I'm beginning to appreciate what it's transitioning to more than I used to.