JAZZ: Weather Report's "This Is This"

If you are a jazz fan and have followed the rock-jazz-fusion beats when many jazzists crossed over from the classic tunes and big band sessions, you should know the likes of the late Austrian keyboardist Joe Zawinul and legendary saxaphonist Wayne Shorter who has been scheduled to perform at the tribute to Herbie Hancock on Sunday, October 28, at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood.

Somehow, for that reason I have been playing the last recorded album of Weather Report when Zawinul and Shorter mutually agreed to discontinue with Report's projects. Following up traditional jazz of the 50's and 60's before the crossovers, I wasn't familiar with Shorter and Zawinul. I got a grip of it while getting deep into jazz-fusion when the mind-blowing ethnic tunes became the norm in the 70's through the 80's until recently that traditional jazz began to stage a comeback as the all-star cast would prove it at the Kodak Theatre on Sunday.

In this last album of jazz-fusion's talented musicians, Shorter and Zawinul "sincerely" thanked all that gave their "enthusiasm and talent" during the course of the band's fifteen years existence. Among them: Alphonse Mouzon, Peter Erskine, drummer Omar Hakim, bassist Alphonso Johnson, Alex Acuna, Airto Moreira, Chester Thompson, Alirio Lima, Ndugu Chancelor, Don Um Romao, Mino Cinelu, Victor Bailey, Greg Enrico, Eric Gravatt, Miroslav Vitous, Marva Barnes, Colleen Coil, Darryl Brown, Seidah Garrett, Darryl Phinnessee and several others that came along the bands path.

The CD beginning with the titled track "This Is This" has everything in it, from the roots of African drum beats and rhythms to the lyrical expressions of a masquerade dance with a flavor of old-school wind instrumens on display. The album is just amazing with Zawinul showcasing his talent, the magnificent performer that he would be until his death last month. I kept replaying the track "Jungle Stuff" as the vibes and voiceovers reminds me of the legendary Chief Priest Fela Anikulapo Kuti.

The album is just great and probably the best that Shorter and Zawinul put together.