Weather Report - Sweetnighter (1973)

Weather Report's third studio album "Sweetnighter" is a unique recording: it includes the least structured, open-ended music that they recorded. Also, the first hip-hop beat ever recorded can be found on this multi-percussion, funky album, which propelled Weather Report to "Jazz Group of the Year" honors in the 38th Annual Down Beat Readers' Poll.

The revolution of sound is heard in Joe Zawinul's foundation piece for the album, Boogie Woogie Waltz (13:06), which is so hip that it hops. Zawinul is also expanding his artistic horizons throughout the tracks, as he supplements his Rhodes electric piano with an ARP synthesizer - and sound-effects - with intriguing use of a wah-wah pedal. Zawinul's 125th Street Congress (12:15) also provides the room for a rhythmic-driven soundscape. The other numbers are Manolete, Adios, Will and Non-Stop Home.

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Tracklist

01. Boogie Woogie Waltz [13:08]
02. Manolete [05:59]
03. Adios [03:02]
04. 125th Street Congress [12:17]
05. Will [06:23]
06. Non-Stop Home [03:52]

Total time 00:44:41

Personnel

Josef Zawinul: Electric and acoustic piano, synthesizer
Wayne Shorter: Soprano and tenor sax
Miroslav Vitous: Electric and acoustic bass
Eric Gravatt: Drums (tracks 2, 4 and 6)
Dom Um Romão: Percussion
Maruga: Percussion
Andrew White III: Electric bass (tracks 1, 4 and 6), English horn (tracks 3 and 5)
Herschel Dwellingham: Drums (tracks 1, 2, 3 and 6)