LIVE IN BERLIN 1971

3.5 stars. WEATHER REPORT released their debut album in May of 1971, while this live show from Berlin, Germany is from September of that same year. Already Airto Moreira has left the band being replaced by Dom Um Romao. My wheelhouse for this band is the followup to the debut "I Sing The Body Electric" and the two that followed "Sweetnighter" and "Mysterious Traveller". Yes the debut and also the later "Heavy Weather" work for me but both are step down from those three in my opinion.

The self titled debut like this live recording can be difficult, veering into free jazz, and while it's objectively very impressive, this can be hard on the ears. Especially when we get those Pharoah Sanders-like horns blasting insanely over top. Not a lot of melody here making this a jazz musician's album in many ways, simply for how complex the music is. I wonder what Miles thought of their debut as both Zawinul and Shorter had left him to form this band. They apparently asked John McLaughlin to be a part of this band but he declined.

All of these musicians were seasoned veterans in the jazz scene before forming this band. Zawinul, like Miles had this desire to pioneer new music but also aiming for public recognition and success beyond the jazz realm. Miroslav Vitous on bass is a monster. Another seasoned musician and composer who created four of the thirteen songs on this double live recording, while Zawinul composed six and Shorter two, with one being a group effort. Vitous had already played with Miles in 1967, then with Chick Corea the following year. Apparently Vitous suggested to Zawinul that they should hire a second bassist to keep time while he did his thing soloing. Not accepted. And my favourite member of the band, drummer Alphonse Mouzon puts on his usual creative effort. They brought in three horn players as guests and they are on the final three tracks of disc one only.

That reminds me that the album cover is what moved me to pick this up in the first place. That black and white photo is so cool as we see them being filmed for television. The venue in Berlin that they played at is called Haus des Rundfunks. It opened in the early 30's created by architect Hans Poelzig who was world- renowned for making these acoustic friendly venues. This was the largest radio hall in the world at the time of it's opening, holding many concerts for classical and chamber music orchestras over the decades before WEATHER REPORT came to town.

Two hours of difficult music, and I just seem to have trouble with the live releases of this band. This is the best live recording I have heard from them so far, so there's that.