Track Listing

1. Black Market
2. Cannon Ball
3. Gibraltar
4. Elegant Pepole
5. Three Clowns
6. Barbary Coast
7. Herandnu

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #16477 in Music
• Brand: Sony
• Released on: 2002-06-04
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

Customer Reviews

final album in Weather Report's most creative period
Weather Report's second "phase" (1973-76) established its (now famous) sound, variously characterized by:

1. Mysterious and ethereal compositions
2. Funky rhythm & blues "grooves"
3. Elaborate electronic textures
4. Virtuoso supporting musicians
5. Influence of diverse musical cultures

"BLACK MARKET" (1976) evinces a maturity of approach, the band consolidating artistic gains from previous years by constructing a unified group of suite-like musical landscapes that draw on elements of jazz, funk and "world music".

The opener ( "Black Market" ), with its infectious melodic "hook", radiates a positive, life-affirming warmth (nice solos and firm, funky rhythmic support) while the closing moments provide a sobering contrast: synthesized imitations of gun and artillery fire reflecting the tragedy of strife endemic (then and now) in many parts of the war-torn "third world".

"Cannonball" is a tribute to (then recently deceased) Julian Adderley, the famous alto saxophonist/bandleader who was Joe Zawinul's former employer. The tune, while pleasant enough, is somewhat lightweight: its streamlined style and overtly sentimental melody presage similar material to follow on their next ( and most famous ) album "Heavy Weather" ( note that Jaco Pastorius' recorded debut with WR took place on "Cannonball" ).

"Gibraltar" opens to sounds of the portside city (waves & foghorns) and softly evocative soprano sax before giving way to a prototypical Weather Report groove superbly laid down by bassist Alphonso Johnson.

Wayne Shorter's "Elegant People" is one of the perennial Weather Report favorites with its feeling of romantic intrigue and flamenco influenced (Phrygian) cadences (yet another infectious thematic "hook" and some impassioned tenor sax by Shorter).

The other Shorter tune on the album ("Three Clowns") is a bizarre "funhouse" ballad, with the composer playing a synthesized wind instrument ("Lyricon").

The final two pieces are both composed by bassists:

Jaco Pastorius' "Barbary Coast" is a brief, funky and somewhat meandering piece.

Alphonso Johnson's "Herandnu" is an interesting tune; a rolling, calliope-sounding theme in alternating time signatures morphing into an up-tempo fusion feature for some keyboard improv by Zawinul (who paraphrases his own "Black Market" at one point). The theme briefly returns before the ghostly eeriness of a 45 second coda.

"BLACK MARKET" was the summation of a musical path established in the 3 preceding albums, which while exhibiting many traits from the previous period also pointed towards the more streamlined direction they would take in their most popular phase (w/ Jaco Pastorius as a dynamic influence). While the group recorded a lot of good music and gained a much-deserved fame in the following years, the 4 albums Weather Report recorded from 1973 to 1976 stand as their most consistently creative efforts.

Addendum 1: The advertising sticker put by Columbia Records on the latest version of "BLACK MARKET" claims that it features Jaco Pastorius. While this is true, it should be noted that Alphonso Johnson plays bass on 4 of the 6 tracks.

Addendum 2: The 24-bit remastered sound is superb. WR fans should strongly consider replacing the older versions with these new editions, which are definite improvements.

Best WR album ever.
In their 15-year career, Weather Report managed to release over a dozen albums, and not one of them is bad. However, the most interesting ones to the listen are the "transitional" albums that capture the band in the midst of a change. Not only is Black Market one of these albums, it is also among their best. It was recorded using two drummers and two bassists, and marks the first Weather Report recording with Mr. Jaco Pastorius (although Jaco only appears on two out of seven cuts. The other five feature ex-bassist Alphonso Johnson). Alex Acuna, the man behind the kit for WR's breakthrough album, Heavy Weather, also debuts as a memeber of the fusion band here. Track by track this record is phenomenal.

"Black Market"- Alphonso lays down an ultra-funky groove to give the album one hip start.

"Cannon Ball"- A great song for two reasons. One, it is a Joe Zawinul ballad, and that is reason enough to label it a masterpiece (think of "Orange Lady" or "A Remark You Made"). It is dedicated to the late alto saxophonist Cannonball Adderley. This is also Jaco's first appearance on the record.

"Gibraltar"- An amazingly exsquisite piece by Zawinul. It starts out as a breathtaking journey, then switches to a pure fusion ditty.

"Elegant People"- Wayne Shorter's shining moment on this record. His tenors and altos have never sounded so sweet. I've had the good fortune to snag a videotape performance of the band circa 1976, and the song is beautifully preformed on it.

"Three Clowns"- Another Shorter piece, and although it is good, it's just not terribly exciting.

"Barbary Coast"- This brief, bass-driven piece is almost specifically a way to introduce the amazing talents of Jaco Pastorius. His singing fretless bass goes from funk to jazz to rock to everything inbetween.

"Hernandu"- Written by the departing bassist Alphonso Johnson, "Hernandu" is actually the album's high point. It is beautifully written, and is a wonderful goodbye to an incredible bass player.

Of the whole 'Jaco Period' (Black Market to the 2nd self-titled album), most argue that the band's greatest work is 1977's Heavy Weather. However, if you want to listen to some less structured and more funky songs, and if you want to say goodbye and hello to two fantastic bassists, Black Market is the album for you.

Great music, stunning audio quality
I'm guessing that most people reading this are already familiar with the excellent music on this CD. You're probably also familiar with the irritating music industry practice of issuing a medicore mix of a great recording and later issuing a "new and improved" edition. However, I have to admit that the recent Columbia/Sony remasters of Weather Report's mid-70's albums are phenomenal. The clarity, warmth, and imaging are the best I've heard from any remastered recording. In fact, the sound quality is better than some CD's I've heard that were recorded in the last year or two. If you're a Weather Report fan, you'll love this remastered edition of Black Market. The new remasters of Tale Spinnin' and Mysterious Traveller are just as good.