While this is by no means the Weather Report's most popular tune, in the interest of sharing a variety of jazz, I present to you Dara Factor One (my personal favorite Weather Report).

Per lil's request, here's what to take away from this piece: The Weather Report focused more so on moods and emotion then intricate soloing. That does not mean that the musicians were sub par by any means. On sax we have Wayne Shorter (who has written most of the most well respected tunes in the jazz repertoire) and Jaco Pastorious on bass (often credited as the best electric bass player of all time and bringer of popularity to the fret-less bass).

By being a jazz fusion group, it is important to recognize the rock elements in practice. Jazz fusion began when Miles Davis wanted to collaborate with many rock musicians of the late 60s - 70s but quickly realized that many of them didn't have a deeper understanding of music theory. These stylistic features can be heard in Jaco's sporadic bass lines meant to emphasize the groove, and Peter Erskine's heavy drum back beat.


posted 4119 days ago