Weather Report
I Sing The Body Electric

It is well known: Jazz Fusion originates from Weather Report, one of the most brilliant bands in history, in the years '76-'77 with the two Masterpieces (note the Capital M) "Black Market" and "Heavy Weather." It would be easy to stop here, take these absolute works of music and admire them; however, it wouldn't be right and perhaps one wouldn't fully understand the reason for certain sounds and where they come from. So, a step back is necessary, actually two. The first leads to "Bitches Brew" by Miles Davis, where all the creators and shapers of that clay called Jazz-Rock play; the second to the first two records by Zawinul and his associates.

The Music time machine takes us to May 1972, at the time of this album's release. First important point to note, the album is split in two: the first four tracks were recorded in the studio between '71 and '72, while the final three tracks are part of a concert in Japan that will be fully released shortly after in the album "Live in Tokio." "I Sing The Body Electric" represents the almost necessary continuation of "Weather Report," which was released only the year before, essentially for two reasons: firstly, the band's composition hasn't changed (except for Eric Gravatt on drums and Dom Um Romao on percussion. It should also be noted that an infinity of musicians have alternated in those roles over the years), the second point concerns the sounds: Shorter's solos aren't deadly and compact yet, Zawinul's Synth doesn't fully manage to be the musical base while Vitous's bass is solid, very technical but still "standard." All elements that were generally present the year before but one recognizes a hint of novelty, of research and nonetheless of evolution. It can be noticed in some nuances in the studio pieces and especially in the Japanese Live. Here, the Weather Report appears transformed: they are aggressive, determined, and the previously listed qualities gain strength and visibility.

Regarding the first part, emblematic "Unknown Soldier" and "Second Sunday In August," for the second I mention the medley "Vertical Invader/T.H./Dr. Honoris Causa." When approaching a band, one almost always starts from the best records, which do not always coincide with the first productions, with Weather Report it's like this and it's undeniable; at that point, it's fair to ask how they reached such heights. The answer is not to be found in the encounter brought by destiny (the one with Jaco Pastorius) but in a human and spiritual journey undertaken by two greats (Shorter and Zawinul) accompanied from time to time by many others who offered their contribution, often forgotten by most.

This writing of mine is dedicated to Miroslav Vitous, an excellent bassist who deserves much credit for building a story that might not have taken the same path with other musicians.