Joe still jammin' up dere with Wayne and Jaco. Miroslav Vitouš and Alex Acuña (not Peter Erskine) on drums, plus Manolo Badrena playing tambourine. will be joining them soon, but "not yet" (Gladiator). Talk about the "Dream Team." Listen up people, this music does not age, it's FRESH in 2024. All credit to Miles for creating the genre (jazz fusion), but Weather Report PERFECTED it! To da max! Reply
I knew Jaco. I sold him my Acoustic 360 bass rig when I took a break from music in '73. We lived a couple of blocks from each other and went to the same high school. He was a really nice guy, kinda quiet when I knew him. Truly a one-of-a-kind talent. He could play any instrument first time out like he'd been playing it all his life.
Weather Report was a magical blend of musical genius. There will never be another like it. I miss Joe and Jaco but they come back alive every time I hear their wonderful music again.
I hope you don't mind if I add The Late Chick Corea to your list of Great Legend's/Pioneers of Fusion Jazz and his Return to Forever Band.Your comment is spot less/perfect.(May Their Music Forever Live On)😊😊😊
My favorite part was Jaco’s vocals on this. His voice sounds just like an angel. You could tell he knew every note, cord, and sound from the whole band. Astonishing !!!!!!
My two favorite parts of this are Jaco's vocals, and the fact that I always envisioned the soloing in the opening bars played on guitar, but here, Jaco plays them on his bass!!!
Jaco's style was totally unique; he played the bass as if it were a lead guitar. He added so much depth to Weather Report. He's the best electric bassist ever. I got to meet him at a mutual friend's home in early '70s; unfortunately everybody there was pretty f+++d up but he was nice enough to say hi to me when we were introduced. Wish he hadn't been so messed up & had gotten a chance to talk to him. But he went on to have stellar career. Can't take that away from him. Messed up or not he was totally in his own orbit. No one played like him.
On Dec 31, 1999, jazz fans nationwide voted Birdland the #1 Jazz Song of the 20th Century, followed by Stanley Clarke's School Days at #2. I always thought that was so cool -- two songs from the late 70s that resonated so much with people that TWENTY YEARS later they were voted as Top Two. I was in college in the late 70s and listened to those two songs all the time. Stanley Clarke & Jaco are the top two bass players in history. Stanley's bass solo on School Days is historic. Love both of those superstars. Stanley's solo on Spanish Phases for Strings & Bass will blow you away.
I saw them at the Berklee music hall in Boston Massachusetts in 1984 I was 8 months pregnant with my 37 year old daughter! I admit my seat was uncomfortable cause of pregnancy but it was the BEST concert I ever went to! Thanks to my brother for lending me his weather report album I had to see them! Now I can binge watch on TH-cam! They're the best!
Heavy weather was the album that got me into jazz. that was in the late seventies. after that i listened to miles, coltrane, ornette, mingus, monk, rollins and all the others. i don't understand why people think jazz is old-fashioned these days
As a "young man" I can definitely testify, mainstream songs are garbage, most good music from this time are done by like, one or two people in their basement because it has passion
Thanks to Araki I discovered some of my favourite bands like King Crimson and Pink Floyd, but Weather Report rocks hard too. I also started listening to bands I stopped listening to as a kid like AC/DC. Bless you Araki 😔🙏
I actually played this in jazz band before listening to it rather than listening it it because it was referenced in Jojo, but most of my favorite songs and bands come from watching Jojo
I had the privilege of seeing them perform in Englewood, NJ. During the performance, an older black guy came into the auditorium and walked up on stage. It was Dizzy Gillespie. He jammed with them for over an hour. It was fantastic!
Weather Report was the greatest fusion band EVER. An ensemble based on Zawinul and Shorter that evolved with fantastic formations until finding Jaco as the chery of the cake, unforgetable!
Saw this same line up of WR in summer '81... So happy I got to see this configuration. I can NOT stop stomping and moving when I hear this!! The energy is infectious!!
But...assume Manhattan Transfer got you PROPERLY dancing though?1?! The original is always the best (and they kept their clothes on - no awful hairy chests/backs!)
@@gordonrehm3350 Pretentious?! No, that would be people who try and play in the key of B major or Gb minor. MT are the epitome of cool, sexy, talent and pizzazz, blazing a magical trail that bands like WR followed but never matched.
@@hairlessx11 What in the bloody hell does the key being performed in during a given moment have to do with true musical innovation, passion, soul? A little clue to perhaps enhance your extremely limited understanding-NOTHING! Most of your commentary is simplistic blathering; denigrating musicians based on keys chosen for composition or improv moments is a flaccid and ignorant attempt at who knows what. And if you believe that there is pretense on the part of WR, then WHY DID MT COPY THEIR ARRANGEMENT almost note for note. I suppose you will now tell us that as well as "gifting" Joe Zawinul with this as his composition to "help him out" you'll claim that the arrangement is of MT origin and "gifted" to WR. Hey, why not add ever more fantasies. Now, when are you going to enlighten all of us "mistaken" ones concerning the date of conception of Birdland? And your absolute proof that this was written by MT, which you of course can not offer.
That Asshole in the Bar in Fort Liquor Dale though Jaco had a torrid but amazing life and Music like this cant even be performed like this today. Not a PC in sight there Smartphine ??? lol
One of my favourite bands of all time along with Return To Forever & the Mahavishnu Orchestra. I love all of the eras of Weather Report, especially the Alphonso Johnson period as it’s just so adventurous & funky.
Absolutely sick! I'm speechless at the sound of Zawinuls synths mixed in with Jaco and whatever God like thing he is doing on bass. Incredible musicianship.
I so love this piece. They make it look so easy :-) Some times you hear other people play covers with this song but they don't ' swing ' the phrases like these guys do. Who could not like this. :-)
With complete respect to the obvious musical genius on display here when I listen to this song I always imagine it as the theme tune to the best 70's buddy cop TV show that never was.
I was at the concert outside Cleveland when Weather Report, Santana, Mahavishnu Orchestra were playing! What a SHOW! It was the 4th of July and some idiots were throwing fire crackers in the show! Imagine it! Only thing missing was Return to Forever! What a life!
jazzynet1 Can’t remember the year (76?) when I saw Lenny White, Al DiMeola, w/ WR as headliner at Winterland in SF. One of the best concerts that I’ve ever attended! I think that RTF had just broken up. I miss Fusion.
RIP Wayne Shorter. Here he's playing with Joe, Jaco and Peter this theme from the Weather Report album "Heavy Weather" (1977). Composed by keyboardist Joe Zawinul, the studio recording featured Alex Acuña (not Peter Erskine) on drums, plus Manolo Badrena playing tambourine.
I was lucky enough to have seen Weather Report in concert way back in 1976. About half way through the concert the stage lights went dark. Then a spot light suddenly lit up Jaco sitting alone on stage. He then started a solo Bass performance which absolutely was the most amazing thing that I have ever seen a musician do. I was in the front row center stage and couldn't believe what I was watching as he played that Bass. It was just so incredible that when he finished there was a few seconds of total silence then an eruption of applause & an extended standing ovation. I will never/ever forgot that night! RIP Jaco, Joe & Wayne and thanks for the memories!
Piggy-backing on Manhattan Transfer's great song. It baffles me why groups like Weather Report didn't learn to entertain the audience more, like introducing co-ordinated on-stage moves, costumes, props (like a cocktail table or neon signs) etc. How anyone could sit through hours of peaple jamming, probably making multiple mistakes in the precess, is beyond me. They should have learned from MT's approach to putting on a good show.
Jaco redefined the electric bass. To me, he is the greatest electric bassist of all time. As Sting pointed out in the docu film, Jaco: "All of us stand on Jaco’s shoulders. No one could have missed that section of DNA out. You know, you needed Jaco, to get to this point."
I do not want to put down Jaco, but his Bass Playing did not become the Main Line of Electric Bass Playing, it was to special, but it will always be an important Sideline.
Joesph Zawinul, Herbie Hancock & Chick Corea All are credited, The true Pioneers of Electric Piano & Fusion Jazz, Weather Reports 1st critically acclaimed Album Mysterious Traveler in 74' broke barriers in Jazz, the track Nubian Sundance, The Musical arrangement is still simply amazing to this day, A true work of Art a Masterpiece It sets the mold for other great bands like Return Forever to emulate, The 1st 5 minutes of that song is epic & stupendous, Doesn't get any better than that
I saw these guys live in London and I feel sorry for anyone who didn't see them live. They were absolutely majestic. Pastorius 10 minute solo was amazing
I know this was the theme song to some show my folks use to watch. Soon as I heard the beginning I was teleported back to sitting on the couch with my pop. Thanks for the nostalgia moment.
Be honest: you would rather have sung the song, wore some sharp suits - maybe with a cocktail in hand - and 'danced' the song under purple neon lights - just like Manhattan Transfer? It's OK, you can reveal your true feelings on the matter.
"Birdland" is a jazz-fusion instrumental composition written by keyboardist Joe Zawinul of Weather Report. The song made its debut on Weather Report’s 1977 studio album, Heavy Weather. With Birdland at the helm of the album, the song gained a tremendous amount of media success, receiving a number of awards, as well as ranking high on various Billboard charts.
You'd have been better to have swapped your ticket for the mighty Manhattan Transfer - they had more talent on their little finger (x4) than the whole of Weather Report's hand(s). You would have at least had an evening of great entertainment: cool harmonies, sharp suits, sexy moves and much more - perhaps even with a cocktail or two.
@@watermelone_man It's your choice of course but MT ooze class and are streets ahead of Weather Report in almost every department, most noticeably in their ability to sing AND dance at the same time. No one can tell me say Wayne Shorts or Jack Pastorio had more charisma, they just play 'complicated' scales while a hairy bloke drummed.
@@hairlessx11 I agree to disagree. Jaco had, in my opinion, more charisma than the whole MT band. He sings and he dances too. Besides, I would be there for the music, not a dance performance and a cocktail.
Absolutely!! I like the older jazz too, but I really like fusion jazz in the 70s. Even though the 60s was a great musical decade with the Beatles and the British Invasion and a whole lot of other stuff, I think the 70s were better in part because of the jazz.
Goosebumps of delight, my utlimate Weather Report line-up playing one of the ultimate, perfectly joyful and creative songs Zawinul's factory of wonders produced.
Hearing this as a kid I didn't know what the lead instrument was! It was not until the last 5 years that I learned that it was the brilliant electric bassist Jaco Pastorius! His is classic song "Portrait of Tracy" has been sampled by hip-hop artist Chingy ft. Tyrese "Pulling Me Back" & R&B female vocal trio SWV's "Rain"!
To Me.. the Greatest Band Ever!! The Music is DAMN Near Perfect to have No Vocalist!!.. I don't have the Words But this is Extremely Special pure Brilliance!!!!
God yeah, listening to the record I thought it was a glorious black lady singing! Also the bass at the beginning, always figured that was a guitar, never heard bass harmonics that good before.
These guys were way ahead of their time ! The kind of music that´s being made nowadays is nowhere near this ! One of the greatest bands ever ! RIP Jaco & Joe . You are greatly missed !
Zawinul was an absolute master of his craft not only as a player but a catalyst for bringing out the very best out of other musicians ... Carlos Santana said as much when playing This is This with them. They don’t make Joe’s or Jaco’s any more
Hey! Just found this by accident. I never knew it existed! I was in that audience and what a night it was! Birdland is the popular one, of course, but Jaco's solo work was simply beautiful - paced, melodic, he just carried you with him and nearly had you weeping at the elegance.
You should have gone up the road to see Manhattan Transfer instead. They must have been devastated to hear WR trash their great song. Rather pay to see four true proefessionals swinging, jiving, grooving and singing than a bunch of 'musicians' who couldn't even dance, yet alone hit the high notes in any meaningful way.
@@hairlessx11 If MT were performing down the road from WR, they'd likely play to a one third full house of geriatric hangers-on. And the full house at WR would have heard the originators of "Birdland".
I somehow like how they have been singled out by the different cameras. Incredible musicians, each in their own place, yet perfectly playing together. 100/100
my god. Jaco churns out that luscious bass line while SCATTING Mr. Shorter's harmony. then he goes over the top, harmonizing with it. Mr. Shorter is suitably impressed. so am i. thanks!
Gunnar Thomas that s Peter Erskine one of my all time favoriete drummers since North SEA jazz steps ahead 'trains' w. Victor Bailey on the bass, frontmen Mike Manieri (still going strong; saw him me last birthday in March) and the late and forever great Michael Brecker.
When we first got hold of this album at school in the 70's the reputation was that the band had an incredible rhythm section whereas Stanley Clarke was the bass player of note at the time.
In the mid-'70s I went to two Miles Davis concerts when he was playing fusion---HATED IT! In the '60s saw Bob Dylan turn electric! Didn't like it! I was stuck in these musicians' pasts. Came to the realization that genius has to develop. Later, I came to love what they developed. Today, I can't get enough of Miles's fusion and Dylan's electric! The same is true of Weather Report. This IS jazz and it's exciting!
Oh! what a beautiful memory first time Weather Report played down town Los Angeles and I was back stage with a German music journalist meting every body in the band and Willy Bobo. Thank you for the memories
Ce morceau, cette musique c'est ma vie ! C'est la vie 35 ans que je rebondis avec ce rhythme ce son et si j'ai un cafard .. allez hop ils sont là Ce sont des génies sortis d'une belle lampe Merci à eux
I remember watching this video 13 years ago. I had been playing classical music all my life. This song and specifically this video opened up the jazz world to me. Birdland will always be my personal favorite
+Geordan Eichhorn ... that's Peter Erskine, he has a GREAT book out titled, No Beethoven, if you want a close up view of the high points from the Jaco Weather Report years, you have to get that book !
Say what you like about "Birdland" (IMHO, it's still a good tune)......NOBODY can play harmonics like Jaco does at the beginning of Birdland. N0B0DY. One of the GREATEST THIRTY SECONDS OF MUSIC I know of.
Not to be 'that guy', but it's not like pinch harmonics are some incredibly difficult thing. He definitely used them in a unique way but any high school band level bass player could have them figured out in about 20 minutes.
Yes jaco is amazing, but harnonics like that are fairly easy if you know how artificial harmonics work. I'm mediocre at best when i play and I figured them out fairly quickly just from watching this video.
... as 'Live Performances' goes, this was superb, Joe Zwainul's keys, Wayne Shorter's Sax and Jaco Pastorious's Bass and vocals, absolutely 'Supreme' . So glad we got to see them live in '83 before Jaco's unfortunate incident . His Genius mirrored his demons of excessive drugs and alcohol which eventually lead to his untimely demise at 35 . Fortunately, his musical legacy lives on, and in my opinion, one of the greatest bassists of the modern era .
Without the bassist Jaco Pastorius, this masterpiece "BIRDLAND" would not have been born. His 4-beat backing is also perfect. I wonder if what kind of music would he have made with Miles Davis if they would collaborated.
@@phein5793 Among the multiple narrow opinions elicited by this proponent of shaved genitalia, the delusion held concerning the author of Birdland cannot be wrung from its iron cranium.
@@hairlessx11 Which must, in your mind, mean that this was originally recorded and arranged by MT, and " later" recorded (with existing arrangement?) by Weather Report? Do you know what year the MT recording is stated as? HELLO HELLO HELLO? Endless fantasies.........
@@hairlessx11 I find it endlessly interesting that you, having been unable to demonstrate the provenance of Birdland being with Manhattan Transfer, also do not have the simple humility to correct your ubiquitous incorrect comments thereupon. Your non stop disparaging of one of the greatest musical groups in history, with truly great musicians, exposes a grasp of music which is quite obviously narrow, shallow and likely bereft of any truly extensive listening experience. Opinions based on simple dislike are often hollow. If ever you come to understand all that is delineated under the very large umbrella of what is termed "jazz", you will discover that this music, after the compositional aspect, requires musicians that can tell a story. Create lush, intense, cerebral, spiritual landscapes. And yes, believe or not, musicians of great virtuosity THAT CAN PLAY THEIR ASS OFF! THESE THINGS ARE THE ESSENCE OF WEATHER REPORT. And as you seem to disapprove of musicians that can truly play, I would refer you to the historical roster of those that played Birdland, and, please, I invite every mighty (and feeble) attempt to call them "jobbing musos" as you have WR.
Still in awe how much Jacco Pastorious, created so much out of four strings, bass playing underlying the rythim and overlays lyrical stanzas as well , listen to a genious past but not forgotten
@@kathleenflick6041 Never quite got over how Weather Report polluted MT's great song with their 'bedroom jamming'. Wish I could get a time machine and at least teach them a move or two.
Back when it came out in 1977, a struggling rock station in the Twin Cities, WDGY, tried out a format called "full color radio", which involved playihg this just about every ten minutes. Still, it has never worn thin on me. I have the CD and play it frequently.
RIP Wayne Shorter.
One of the greatest ever.
Enjoy your reunion with Joe and Jaco, among others!
Had a few mistakes here but we forgive him!
Joe still jammin' up dere with Wayne and Jaco. Miroslav Vitouš and Alex Acuña (not Peter Erskine) on drums, plus Manolo Badrena playing tambourine. will be joining them soon, but "not yet" (Gladiator). Talk about the "Dream Team." Listen up people, this music does not age, it's FRESH in 2024. All credit to Miles for creating the genre (jazz fusion), but Weather Report PERFECTED it! To da max!
Reply
@@Zedzian23 this show is indeed Peter Erskine
IKR 😞
Dang that's sad RIP
I knew Jaco. I sold him my Acoustic 360 bass rig when I took a break from music in '73. We lived a couple of blocks from each other and went to the same high school. He was a really nice guy, kinda quiet when I knew him. Truly a one-of-a-kind talent.
He could play any instrument first time out like he'd been playing it all his life.
THE REAL MUSIC HISTORY
Did he ever talk about The Urantia Book?
@@polarbear6064 I've read some of it but never had occasion to discuss it with Jaco. It's a HUGE book.
ooh
thanks for the memory!
One of the greatest bands of all time doing one greatest songs of all time. It don't get better then this.
Máš pravdu.Tuto vec poznám už veľmi dlho,milujem jazz a nič lepšie od jazzu niet.
Unless you're listening to the Manhattan Transfer, eh? 💓💓
Real music.
Real musicians.
Recorded live.
You are describing a Manhattan Transfer concert - a thing of beauty.
Weather Report was a magical blend of musical genius. There will never be another like it. I miss Joe and Jaco but they come back alive every time I hear their wonderful music again.
Right on!
Same here!
I hope you don't mind if I add The Late Chick Corea to your list of Great Legend's/Pioneers of Fusion Jazz and his Return to Forever Band.Your comment is spot less/perfect.(May Their Music Forever Live On)😊😊😊
Now we miss Wayne too
Jaco morto, Joe morto, Wayne morto ...e io...non mi sento tanto bene
Just to answer the question:
Joe Zawinul- Keys
Wayne Shorter- Woodwinds
Jaco Pastorius- Bass
Peter Erskine- Drums
Also known as one of the greatest lineups of all time
THANK YOU ASTROMAYAN!
@Robert Boyle Are you kidding me?
@@Beefcomb Unknown guy. Had potential but faded from the scene. Never really amounted to much...
@@docwill184
LoL
My favorite part was Jaco’s vocals on this. His voice sounds just like an angel. You could tell he knew every note, cord, and sound from the whole band. Astonishing !!!!!!
My two favorite parts of this are Jaco's vocals, and the fact that I always envisioned the soloing in the opening bars played on guitar, but here, Jaco plays them on his bass!!!
@@stephencrittenden9011I thought the same thing.
Jaco was an amazing bassist like no other. He left us way too soon! RIP Jaco.
Jaco's style was totally unique; he played the bass as if it were a lead guitar. He added so much depth to Weather Report. He's the best electric bassist ever. I got to meet him at a mutual friend's home in early '70s; unfortunately everybody there was pretty f+++d up but he was nice enough to say hi to me when we were introduced. Wish he hadn't been so messed up & had gotten a chance to talk to him. But he went on to have stellar career. Can't take that away from him. Messed up or not he was totally in his own orbit. No one played like him.
les claypool comes pretty close
Bootsy Collins too.
But what about Viktor Woooooooteeeen?
On Dec 31, 1999, jazz fans nationwide voted Birdland the #1 Jazz Song of the 20th Century, followed by Stanley Clarke's School Days at #2. I always thought that was so cool -- two songs from the late 70s that resonated so much with people that TWENTY YEARS later they were voted as Top Two. I was in college in the late 70s and listened to those two songs all the time. Stanley Clarke & Jaco are the top two bass players in history. Stanley's bass solo on School Days is historic. Love both of those superstars. Stanley's solo on Spanish Phases for Strings & Bass will blow you away.
Try listening to Bill Evans' "Very Early," his first jazz composition. I think Miles did, that's why he tapped him for his quintet.
I saw them at the Berklee music hall in Boston Massachusetts in 1984 I was 8 months pregnant with my 37 year old daughter! I admit my seat was uncomfortable cause of pregnancy but it was the BEST concert I ever went to! Thanks to my brother for lending me his weather report album I had to see them! Now I can binge watch on TH-cam! They're the best!
Blessings to you and your daughter. Live long and prosper.
we all know Jaco will always be a legend, but can we just appreciate the pocket that drummer is in???
That's how it goes, in the pocket. Live, in the moment.
not to mention those dynamics man.. utter perfection 👌🏾
The drummer is Peter Erskine.
@@marktguitar peter erskine is a beast my friend !
Most pockets are empty and have Holes in em...
So much to love, but my favorite part is Jaco singing along with the sax.
One of the most incredible bands ever. Was lucky enough to see them many times in their prime.
Me too
Me three
Incredible? Im 62 and never even heard of them. Lol
@@Tony-mh3dm That only shows how little you know about music. :)
@@Tony-mh3dm Well that was embarrassing
This performance especially dwells as a permanent and welcome earworm in my mind that helps me deal with the tribulations of life. RIP Wayne Shorter!
Epic music and talent. Jocko would have been 71 in 2022...unimaginable talent snuffed out at a young age.
Honestly the folk who take the time to preserve this history deserve our greatest respect. May they live long and prosper as they say these days
Right with you my friend - hats off to those who gave of themselves
Heavy weather was the album that got me into jazz. that was in the late seventies. after that i listened to miles, coltrane, ornette, mingus, monk, rollins and all the others.
i don't understand why people think jazz is old-fashioned these days
No musical culture, that's why.
Me too. My brother had this album and I played it alot in 1979 somewhere around that year
@@demolinertom2981 you are so right. Music is fake now. I always listen to 60s and 70s music
As a "young man" I can definitely testify, mainstream songs are garbage, most good music from this time are done by like, one or two people in their basement because it has passion
WELL SAID. What if there was a jazz fusion comeback just so many artists that look up to the greats emulating them...
After 35 years this song is ever on my playlist!!!
Magnifica esecuzione !
It doesn't matter if this is jazz or not, this is just a great piece of music played by extraordinarily talented people.
I was sad to hear Wayne Shorter died at 89. He remains one of my favourite sax players ever.
its so sad that wayne shorter died from ligma
@@sicariusflamus3033shutcho
Thanks to Araki I discovered some of my favourite bands like King Crimson and Pink Floyd, but Weather Report rocks hard too. I also started listening to bands I stopped listening to as a kid like AC/DC. Bless you Araki 😔🙏
here from jojo as well lol
Actual good jojo related comment on a music video. It helped me discover a lot of songs too actually lol
I listen for same reason
I actually played this in jazz band before listening to it rather than listening it it because it was referenced in Jojo, but most of my favorite songs and bands come from watching Jojo
@@tdoyr Jaco and AC/DC Forever
I had the privilege of seeing them perform in Englewood, NJ. During the performance, an older black guy came into the auditorium and walked up on stage. It was Dizzy Gillespie. He jammed with them for over an hour. It was fantastic!
"Better than two sets of Dizzy..."--Al Jarreau, "Better than Anything"
That older black guy Dizzy always gave credit to Joe who wrote the classic, Mercy Mercy Mercy
Now that, is a f@ckin anecdote. Nice one.
Never get tired of hearing this...from the first time I heard it, I've been smiling ever since !!
Pure oxygen.
*STOP IT!!!*
@@hasanbassari7364 never
I found the jojo's reference
STOP !
MADE IN HEAVEN
All these years, I had no idea it was Jaco singing. What an incredible voice.
And all while playing that groovy walking line. Mastery.
haha yeah!! thought there were ladies doing backup singing!!!
He was pretty credible, really.
"An organism that can have sex with anything it encounters... I'm kinda jealous... I mean-no! That's just gross!"
-Jolyne Cujoh
The same here blew my mind that did falsetto
Weather Report was the greatest fusion band EVER. An ensemble based on Zawinul and Shorter that evolved with fantastic formations until finding Jaco as the chery of the cake, unforgetable!
Jaco Pastorius, Master Bassist, weaves a tapestry of Bass brilliance. It truly 'makes' the piece timeless. Kudos to Zawinul for this too. Work of art.
Saw this same line up of WR in summer '81... So happy I got to see this configuration. I can NOT stop stomping and moving when I hear this!! The energy is infectious!!
But...assume Manhattan Transfer got you PROPERLY dancing though?1?! The original is always the best (and they kept their clothes on - no awful hairy chests/backs!)
@@hairlessx11Oh yeah, the ever pretentious MT.
@@hairlessx11 And in what year was the original recorded? HELLO?
@@gordonrehm3350 Pretentious?! No, that would be people who try and play in the key of B major or Gb minor. MT are the epitome of cool, sexy, talent and pizzazz, blazing a magical trail that bands like WR followed but never matched.
@@hairlessx11 What in the bloody hell does the key being performed in during a given moment have to do with true
musical innovation, passion, soul? A little clue to perhaps enhance your extremely limited understanding-NOTHING!
Most of your commentary is simplistic blathering; denigrating musicians based on keys chosen for composition
or improv moments is a flaccid and ignorant attempt at who knows what.
And if you believe that there is pretense on the part of WR, then WHY DID MT COPY THEIR ARRANGEMENT
almost note for note. I suppose you will now tell us that as well as "gifting" Joe Zawinul with this as his composition
to "help him out" you'll claim that the arrangement is of MT origin and "gifted" to WR. Hey, why not add ever more fantasies.
Now, when are you going to enlighten all of us "mistaken" ones concerning the date of conception of Birdland?
And your absolute proof that this was written by MT, which you of course can not offer.
Josef and Jaco: Bless you. Thanks for the lovely music.
Saw WR live. THey were past perfection. Broke my heart when they ended the group. But you got them here. Loads of thanks.
I was a friend of Jaco's from the Village. It hurt my heart when he died.
That Asshole in the Bar in Fort Liquor Dale though Jaco had a torrid but amazing life and Music like this cant even be performed like this today. Not a PC in sight there Smartphine ??? lol
So Sorry Ed go to meet him briefly when worked for Whisper Concert in prom for a couple of ther show in VA 1977. Amazing energy
Understand fully Jacob great ness
@@victoriakenbridgeuploadpro1540 I don't think he had any idea who Jaco was but not sure if it changed anything had he known.
I love the swing rhythm they did for this rendition.
Back when Jazz Fusion could make the charts.
Back before Mega Corporations took over all the Radio Stations.
This shit ain't topping charts no matter who is in charge
Back when jazz fusion was selling out stadiums!
Cameron Fisher That’s not those four great musicians fault. It’s the dumbed down no class people who listen to Beyonce and Justin Beiber’s fault.
Jazzen
Joe Zawinul - Keyboards
Wayne Shorter - Saxos soprano y tenor
Jaco Pastorius - Bajo eléctrico
Peter Erkskine - Bateria
спасибо за перевод, обнимаю из Кении
danke für die übersetzung, eine umarmung aus kenia
@@giusangiu It was a pleasure
Absolutely brilliant combo with drummer sax and bass. Perfection x
One of my favourite bands of all time along with Return To Forever & the Mahavishnu Orchestra. I love all of the eras of Weather Report, especially the Alphonso Johnson period as it’s just so adventurous & funky.
Absolutely sick! I'm speechless at the sound of Zawinuls synths mixed in with Jaco and whatever God like thing he is doing on bass. Incredible musicianship.
Apart from the 4:42 section where Zawinul’s Mini Moog definitely suffered from some tuning issues!
I so love this piece. They make it look so easy :-) Some times you hear other people play covers with this song but they don't ' swing ' the phrases like these guys do. Who could not like this. :-)
One of my all time favorites, I don't care how many times I hear this or which version, it always gives me goose bumps!
With complete respect to the obvious musical genius on display here when I listen to this song I always imagine it as the theme tune to the best 70's buddy cop TV show that never was.
two guys from the band are starring roles. Detectives during the day, musicians by night. They use music to solve crime.
I was at the concert outside Cleveland when Weather Report, Santana, Mahavishnu Orchestra were playing! What a SHOW! It was the 4th of July and some idiots were throwing fire crackers in the show! Imagine it! Only thing missing was Return to Forever!
What a life!
That’s a SHOW. 3 bands all at top of their game on one billing ffs lol
Good videos of good times.
wow,that had to be the best show
jazzynet1 Can’t remember the year (76?) when I saw Lenny White, Al DiMeola, w/ WR as headliner at Winterland in SF. One of the best concerts that I’ve ever attended! I think that RTF had just broken up. I miss Fusion.
Mahuvishnu Was Fucking AMAZING!
RIP Wayne Shorter. Here he's playing with Joe, Jaco and Peter this theme from the Weather Report album "Heavy Weather" (1977). Composed by keyboardist Joe Zawinul, the studio recording featured Alex Acuña (not Peter Erskine) on drums, plus Manolo Badrena playing tambourine.
One of my favorite electric Jazz bands…and “Birdland” has to be my favorite song from that genre.
I never realized it was Jaco doing those vocals before I saw this video.
Same, always thought it was a choir
On the original studio album, it was Josef.
I was lucky enough to have seen Weather Report in concert way back in 1976. About half way through the concert the stage lights went dark. Then a spot light suddenly lit up Jaco sitting alone on stage. He then started a solo Bass performance which absolutely was the most amazing thing that I have ever seen a musician do. I was in the front row center stage and couldn't believe what I was watching as he played that Bass. It was just so incredible that when he finished there was a few seconds of total silence then an eruption of applause & an extended standing ovation. I will never/ever forgot that night! RIP Jaco, Joe & Wayne and thanks for the memories!
I saw them that year in LA with Oscar Peterson and feeling was the same...
I’m so grateful to this band for introducing me to jazz back in 1977.
same here... in 82 ;)
A masterpiece and historical moment for jazz and rock meantime ! Jaco and Jo became legends.
Piggy-backing on Manhattan Transfer's great song. It baffles me why groups like Weather Report didn't learn to entertain the audience more, like introducing co-ordinated on-stage moves, costumes, props (like a cocktail table or neon signs) etc. How anyone could sit through hours of peaple jamming, probably making multiple mistakes in the precess, is beyond me. They should have learned from MT's approach to putting on a good show.
How is Weather Report piggy backing off Manhattan Transfer when Joe Zawinol is the composer of the composition, and they did it first?????
Wow! Jaco did the vocal on that? I did not know. He was amazing. He got more out of a four string bass than many today get out of an eight string!
Jaco redefined the electric bass. To me, he is the greatest electric bassist of all time. As Sting pointed out in the docu film, Jaco: "All of us stand on Jaco’s shoulders. No one could have missed that section of DNA out. You know, you needed Jaco, to get to this point."
?
@@Kanaka101 the dude who plays bass for the band is jaco, thats who OP was talking about
I totally disagree. With or without Jaco, I'd still suck at playing bass at this point.
when I listen to the bass lines it drives me nuts, Jaco is really one of the few greatest of all time
I do not want to put down Jaco, but his Bass Playing did not become the Main Line of Electric Bass Playing, it was to special, but it will always be an important Sideline.
The late great Joe Zawinul was born on this day; July 7th, 1932. Thank you Joe for all the great music memories!
was a dick to Jaco though. Hahaha :))))
if anyone came up to you and told you " im the best X", you should tell him to fuck off as well, since 99% are scammers. lmao
Joesph Zawinul, Herbie Hancock & Chick Corea All are credited, The true Pioneers of Electric Piano & Fusion Jazz,
Weather Reports 1st critically acclaimed Album Mysterious Traveler in 74' broke barriers in Jazz, the track Nubian Sundance, The Musical arrangement is still simply amazing to this day, A true work of Art a Masterpiece It sets the mold for other great bands like Return Forever to emulate, The 1st 5 minutes of that song is epic & stupendous, Doesn't get any better than that
he was born on MURICA DAY
I saw these guys live in London and I feel sorry for anyone who didn't see them live.
They were absolutely majestic.
Pastorius 10 minute solo was amazing
one of the great songs ever written, and amazing band..
I know this was the theme song to some show my folks use to watch. Soon as I heard the beginning I was teleported back to sitting on the couch with my pop. Thanks for the nostalgia moment.
I remember playing this song in jazz band in high school many years ago. Brings back so many beautiful memories
Be honest: you would rather have sung the song, wore some sharp suits - maybe with a cocktail in hand - and 'danced' the song under purple neon lights - just like Manhattan Transfer? It's OK, you can reveal your true feelings on the matter.
@@hairlessx11 Sure, every true musician just longs to be a staged poser.
"Birdland" is a jazz-fusion instrumental composition written by keyboardist Joe Zawinul of Weather Report. The song made its debut on Weather Report’s 1977 studio album, Heavy Weather. With Birdland at the helm of the album, the song gained a tremendous amount of media success, receiving a number of awards, as well as ranking high on various Billboard charts.
I still have the vinyl copy I bought way back in the 70's.
I was extremely fortunate to have seen them perform this classic years ago. What an incredible experience!
You'd have been better to have swapped your ticket for the mighty Manhattan Transfer - they had more talent on their little finger (x4) than the whole of Weather Report's hand(s). You would have at least had an evening of great entertainment: cool harmonies, sharp suits, sexy moves and much more - perhaps even with a cocktail or two.
@@hairlessx11 If I had a weather report ticket I wouldn't be swapping it for any other band at all.
@@watermelone_man It's your choice of course but MT ooze class and are streets ahead of Weather Report in almost every department, most noticeably in their ability to sing AND dance at the same time. No one can tell me say Wayne Shorts or Jack Pastorio had more charisma, they just play 'complicated' scales while a hairy bloke drummed.
@@hairlessx11 I agree to disagree. Jaco had, in my opinion, more charisma than the whole MT band. He sings and he dances too. Besides, I would be there for the music, not a dance performance and a cocktail.
@@hairlessx11 You are probably on drugs - its OK - get some treatment and then you can appreciate real music - not some folk singers!!!
Two years later (1980) I survived my Senior year (thesis) in biology playing this song "mantra style" -- lovely to revisit! THANK YOU for posting.
A lot of great jazz came out of the 1970s. It was great to be a kid growing up in that musical era.
Absolutely!! I like the older jazz too, but I really like fusion jazz in the 70s. Even though the 60s was a great musical decade with the Beatles and the British Invasion and a whole lot of other stuff, I think the 70s were better in part because of the jazz.
Great band and even a very cool album cover of a bad storm over a city.😊
Can't understand every single dislike 😒 this track has everything. The pure beauty of Music 🎶
Goosebumps of delight, my utlimate Weather Report line-up playing one of the ultimate, perfectly joyful and creative songs Zawinul's factory of wonders produced.
love the drums and bass on this and yes everyone is killing it on this tune. Wonderful
Hearing this as a kid I didn't know what the lead instrument was! It was not until the last 5 years that I learned that it was the brilliant electric bassist Jaco Pastorius! His is classic song "Portrait of Tracy" has been sampled by hip-hop artist Chingy ft. Tyrese "Pulling Me Back" & R&B female vocal trio SWV's "Rain"!
+Ramon LeBlanc Harts Wow, I didn't know there were so many songs that had it as sample. There's "Pigeon" also, by Cannibal Ox :)
To Me.. the Greatest Band Ever!! The Music is DAMN Near Perfect to have No Vocalist!!.. I don't have the Words But this is Extremely Special pure Brilliance!!!!
Love Jaco's vocals.
I was pleasantly surprised with his vocals, a nice touch to this glorious jam.
Agreed
God yeah, listening to the record I thought it was a glorious black lady singing! Also the bass at the beginning, always figured that was a guitar, never heard bass harmonics that good before.
@@zootsoot2006 me too man! i thought it was just a smooth guitar at first then i saw him bending harmonics???
When I first heard that vocal I was looking to see who the female vocalist was!
最高のメンバーによる最高の演奏!!純粋に音が楽しい🎶これが音楽というもの!!🎺🎹🎸♥️🤗😆
These guys were way ahead of their time ! The kind of music that´s being made nowadays is nowhere near this ! One of the greatest bands ever ! RIP Jaco & Joe . You are greatly missed !
Phil Fell Amen to that my friend. They now play for the gods.
I´m sure they do , my friend . Cheers ! :)
JON D. ELDER I´m sure they do my friend . Cheers ! :)
that walking baseline starting @ 1:46 is........
godly.
and then he's singing at the same time??
man...
this song makes me wanna use my cloud ghost to play a piano using rain drops
Another jojo fan with his humor at the level of an average Japanese
hahah you are funny
unfunny
while walking on my tippy toes
lmao use it to make it rain frogs, that'd be hilarious
8:30 was one of the first albums that I bought and I still cry when I listen to A Remark You Made.
This song reminds me of RAINING POOISON DART FROGS IN FLORIDA
IS THAT A FRICKING JOJO'S REFERENCE?
W
Check your spelling!
Metamorphosis!!!
Well I need to check that ☝️coz this is one of my favs
I am so proud of Joe!
From our hometown!
This is music history!
Mozart, Mahler, Zawinul. Austria rules!
Zawinul was an absolute master of his craft not only as a player but a catalyst for bringing out the very best out of other musicians ... Carlos Santana said as much when playing This is This with them. They don’t make Joe’s or Jaco’s any more
@@earospace You'll damn right!!!!!
@@garylove5475 Such a nice comment. Thank you!
But did you know that Joe could also cook the original Wiener Gulasch in the USA? :)
Hey! Just found this by accident. I never knew it existed! I was in that audience and what a night it was! Birdland is the popular one, of course, but Jaco's solo work was simply beautiful - paced, melodic, he just carried you with him and nearly had you weeping at the elegance.
You should have gone up the road to see Manhattan Transfer instead. They must have been devastated to hear WR trash their great song. Rather pay to see four true proefessionals swinging, jiving, grooving and singing than a bunch of 'musicians' who couldn't even dance, yet alone hit the high notes in any meaningful way.
@@hairlessx11 Do I guess this isn't quite your taste in music, o hairless one? God save the Queen.
@@hairlessx11 If MT were performing down the road from WR, they'd likely play to a one third full house of
geriatric hangers-on. And the full house at WR would have heard the originators of "Birdland".
I somehow like how they have been singled out by the different cameras. Incredible musicians, each in their own place, yet perfectly playing together. 100/100
Mon Dieu quel talent !!!! , C'est Magnifique !!!
Heavy Weather ! One of the all time great albums.
Heard this live at a Connecticut restaurant back in '94. The fellas were outrageous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Was it a cover? Because Jaco was long dead by then.
my god. Jaco churns out that luscious bass line while SCATTING Mr. Shorter's harmony. then he goes over the top, harmonizing with it. Mr. Shorter is suitably impressed. so am i. thanks!
That drummer is too good.
Gunnar Thomas that s Peter Erskine one of my all time favoriete drummers since North SEA jazz steps ahead 'trains' w. Victor Bailey on the bass, frontmen Mike Manieri (still going strong; saw him me last birthday in March) and the late and forever great Michael Brecker.
When we first got hold of this album at school in the 70's the reputation was that the band had an incredible rhythm section whereas Stanley Clarke was the bass player of note at the time.
In the mid-'70s I went to two Miles Davis concerts when he was playing fusion---HATED IT! In the '60s saw Bob Dylan turn electric! Didn't like it! I was stuck in these musicians' pasts. Came to the realization that genius has to develop. Later, I came to love what they developed. Today, I can't get enough of Miles's fusion and Dylan's electric! The same is true of Weather Report. This IS jazz and it's exciting!
Key board has two shirts and a hat, wood wind a shirt and vest, base player and drummer shirtless. Is it hot or cold?
it depends on what you're high on!
John Luscombe great observation !
It’s steaming
The drummer is wearing a sweater.
its super cool
Oh! what a beautiful memory first time Weather Report played down town Los Angeles and I was back stage with a German music journalist meting every body in the band and Willy Bobo. Thank you for the memories
Ah Abobo He had a great latin band in LA Heard them at a place on western ave.
Ce morceau, cette musique c'est ma vie ! C'est la vie 35 ans que je rebondis avec ce rhythme ce son et si j'ai un cafard .. allez hop ils sont là Ce sont des génies sortis d'une belle lampe
Merci à eux
Wow - very nice to see such a classic done live! Never knew who did the vocals - now I do. Thanks.
Jaco is phenomenal. I just realized he is also doing the vocals. Incredible.
The high pitched vocals - what a talent
Ma che roba è questa????? Fantastico... Bellissimo!!!!!
Saw this tour at Uptown Theater in KC. '78 Awesome show.
I love how they swung it in this performance.
Seriously, love jaco’s walking as well.
One of the best pieces of music ever made!
I remember watching this video 13 years ago. I had been playing classical music all my life. This song and specifically this video opened up the jazz world to me. Birdland will always be my personal favorite
Wow that drummer is great, they're all great. What a piece of music.
+Geordan Eichhorn ... that's Peter Erskine, he has a GREAT book out titled, No Beethoven, if you want a close up view of the high points from the Jaco Weather Report years, you have to get that book !
JACO... He can do vocal squeals like Prince... And jump in the air like David Lee Roth. He's more influential than I ever realized...
Say what you like about "Birdland" (IMHO, it's still a good tune)......NOBODY can play harmonics like Jaco does at the beginning of Birdland. N0B0DY. One of the GREATEST THIRTY SECONDS OF MUSIC I know of.
"One of the greatest 30 seconds." Sounds like me ;) but a great song nonetheless.
Have you heard of Steve Bailey?
Not to be 'that guy', but it's not like pinch harmonics are some incredibly difficult thing. He definitely used them in a unique way but any high school band level bass player could have them figured out in about 20 minutes.
Percy Jones of Brand X
Yes jaco is amazing, but harnonics like that are fairly easy if you know how artificial harmonics work. I'm mediocre at best when i play and I figured them out fairly quickly just from watching this video.
these guys made so many of my days when i was feeling down.
... as 'Live Performances' goes, this was superb, Joe Zwainul's keys, Wayne Shorter's Sax and Jaco Pastorious's Bass and vocals, absolutely 'Supreme' . So glad we got to see them live in '83 before Jaco's unfortunate incident . His Genius mirrored his demons of excessive drugs and alcohol which eventually lead to his untimely demise at 35 . Fortunately, his musical legacy lives on, and in my opinion, one of the greatest bassists of the modern era .
I didnt know it...
That was one groovalicious, fanfreakingtastic aural sway down memory lane. Thanks so much for posting! SZ xo 💓
Without the bassist Jaco Pastorius, this masterpiece "BIRDLAND" would not have been born. His 4-beat backing is also perfect. I wonder if what kind of music would he have made with Miles Davis if they would collaborated.
It would have been born - Manhattan Transfer made sure of that. Jacvo just added his take on their great song.
@@hairlessx11 you are confused. Manhattan Transfer covered this, they didn't create it.
@@phein5793 Among the multiple narrow opinions elicited by this proponent of shaved genitalia,
the delusion held concerning the author of Birdland cannot be wrung from its iron cranium.
@@hairlessx11 Which must, in your mind, mean that this was originally recorded and arranged by MT,
and " later" recorded (with existing arrangement?) by Weather Report? Do you know what year the MT
recording is stated as? HELLO HELLO HELLO? Endless fantasies.........
@@hairlessx11 I find it endlessly interesting that you, having been unable to demonstrate the provenance of Birdland being
with Manhattan Transfer, also do not have the simple humility to correct your ubiquitous incorrect comments thereupon.
Your non stop disparaging of one of the greatest musical groups in history, with truly great musicians, exposes a grasp of
music which is quite obviously narrow, shallow and likely bereft of any truly extensive listening experience. Opinions based
on simple dislike are often hollow.
If ever you come to understand all that is delineated under the very large umbrella of what is termed "jazz", you will discover that this music, after the compositional aspect, requires musicians that can tell a story. Create lush, intense, cerebral, spiritual landscapes. And yes, believe or not, musicians of great virtuosity THAT CAN PLAY THEIR ASS OFF! THESE THINGS ARE THE ESSENCE OF WEATHER REPORT.
And as you seem to disapprove of musicians that can truly play, I would refer you to the historical roster of those that
played Birdland, and, please, I invite every mighty (and feeble) attempt to call them "jobbing musos" as you have WR.
Still in awe how much Jacco Pastorious, created so much out of four strings, bass playing underlying the rythim and overlays lyrical stanzas as well , listen to a genious past but not forgotten
45 years later, it's still a great song!
It is indeed - Manhattan Transfer never came up with one as good... (although their snazzy dancing skills went off the scale of brilliance over time)
It's perfection.
@@kathleenflick6041 Never quite got over how Weather Report polluted MT's great song with their 'bedroom jamming'. Wish I could get a time machine and at least teach them a move or two.
Back when it came out in 1977, a struggling rock station in the Twin Cities, WDGY, tried out a format called "full color radio", which involved playihg this just about every ten minutes. Still, it has never worn thin on me. I have the CD and play it frequently.
@@hairlessx11 It's even better since music is so crummy now.
Oh my God!!!! Jaco you was a genius! RIP!!!!!!
Oh man I love it when Jaco starting harmonizing :-) so freaking cool, and such a voice. :-)
Great line up with Jaco and a Pete joining Zawinul and Shorter....sublime