Black Market - Weather Report

Jun

20

Black Market - Weather Report

≡ Category: 1970s, Fusion, Jazz Funk, Recommended, Reviews, World Fusion |
≅ Written by: Michael Kydonieus

JAZZBO NOTES RECOMMENDED RECORDING

Rating:

My guess is that Black Market is one of Joe Zawinul’s favorite Weather Report dates. Why? Well, it’s a major Third World groove machine which, judging by the interviews Zawinul has given over the years, seems to be his main priority. Another thing that Zawinul should be justifiably proud of: his keyboard sounds haven’t dated in 30+ years. Even though Black Market features two different bass players (Jaco Pastorius and Alphonso Johnson) and two different drummers (Narada Michael Walden and Chester Thompson), Zawinul manages to give the date a remarkably consistent feel. In keeping with his Third World aspirations, Zawinul also used two great percussionists, Alejandro Acuna and Don Alias. Black Market sounds great.

So, why am I not giving Black Market a rave review?

Well, improvisation is totally subordinated to either groove or mood pieces. Virtuosity is completely deemphasized. When you’ve got world class improvisors like Joe Zawinul, Wayne Shorter, and Jaco Pastorius on hand, that’s just a shame.

Yes, Zawinul is a hell of an accompaniest. Yes, the way the members of the band work off one another is awe inspiring. But still, I expect more from master musicians like these.

And the tunes are too damned simple and poppy. Black Market is like a more tasteful version of early Spiro Gyra. Alright, that’s a little harsh, but my criticism has an element of truth. It tells you something when the most memorable tune on the date was written by bassist Alphonso Johnson, who shared bass duties with Jaco. Herandnu, in the odd time signature of 11/4, is also unique in the way that it uses an arpeggio with wide intervals to create the melody, transposed into different chords.

If only the rest of the tunes were as compositionally ambitious. Instead, Zawinul chose to concentrate on using the studio to create thick and beguiling layers of sound, which nonetheless never give the impression of clutter, and rock the house with monster grooves.

Really, for what Zawinul set out to do, Black Market is pretty much perfection. But I don’t care. I’ll take Heavy Weather or Mysterious Traveller or the I Sing The Body Electric over Black Market any day of the week.