Search - Weather Report: Live at Montreux 1976 on DVD

Revelation Time

Brian Whistler | Forestville, CA United States | 04/22/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For many of us Weather Report fanatics this is the Holy Grail of WP live videos. If you're like me, you already own a bootleg of this show. I have two, the second being slightly better in quality to the first, with even a hand held audience camera (horrible quality) filling in Dr Honora ex Causa/Directions tune which was missing from the television broadcast from whence the bootleg was born.



But this is a whole other level of quality. The good folks at Eagle Vision should be commended for taking the original filmed concert and lovingly restoring it to its full length. Even more impressive than the crystal clear video and continuity is the superior sound. We are given no less than three formats to choose from, Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS(!) and PCM stereo. The DTS sounds great on my system, putting this outstanding performance under an aural magnifying glass. One can hear so many details that the first viewing/listening was startling, even though I have viewed the bootleg countless times. The PCM stereo version is also superb-encoded as it is @48k and 16 bit, it surpasses CD specs and sounds it too, considering the 1976 concert quality source. I should note that the balance of the band is a little off at the beginning, but quickly adjusts to a satisfactory mix for most of the show. Overall , the bass is a bit weak and the percussion a little too forward for my tastes, but its close enough to not get in the way of really enjoying the music.



As for the performance, well, if you don't know why WP was considered such a big deal ,this document should convince you of their importance in modern jazz history. This was before they played the big concert venues and added all the lights and smoke. This is not a show band: this a seriously committed group of players who came to blow the walls off the hall. And blow the walls off they do. Presented with this 'take no prisoners' attitude, even the somewhat restrained Montreux audience is visibly moved to standing applause by the end.



This is the Heavy Weather band before Heavy Weather. (But listen: Zawinul was messing around with the Birdland lick at the beginning of ex causa-and isn't that the bass riff from River People that jaco's playing in Gibraltar?) The material ranges from early Zawinul (ex Causa) through Black Market. The intensity and focus never wavers for an instant, even in the introspective moments. It's fascinating to watch these younger incarnations of the legends we know today. This younger Zawinul, whose stage persona is not known to be particularly engaging, is postively (dare I say it?) gleeful at times. He even smiles on several occasions. Wayne is ever the enigmatic poet, rarely coming up for air to peer out at the crowd. This was Jaco Pasorius' second live gig with the band, and he seems to be out to prove himself to the Big Boys. There are no shennanigans and no grand standing on this set-Jaco's not playing to the crowd- he's clearly here to make music.



Another delight of this set is the spirited interplay between percussionist Manolo Badrena and drummer Alex Acuna. They smile,cajole and even playfully taunt one another,constantly upping the excitement on stage. They are a pleasure to watch. Their enthusiasm and good natured comradery adds to the overall good vibe of the performance. This band is having fun.



I noticed Amazon has lowered the price from the $14 I paid for my copy. Honestly, it would be well worth the price at twice the price. This is a long sought after gem. Don't miss it.



Now if only someone would come out with that legendary Belgrade video..."

Great Upgrade to a Magnificent Show!!

Derrick Wilson | Atlanta GA | 04/24/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Simply an amazing show!!! Many WR fans have had this one from their bootleg collection and it ranks up there with one of their favorites. The Montreux Jazz Fest and Mr. Claude have done a wonderful job in restoring these historical concerts. Why have I seen this show over hundreds of times and still left shaking my head in disbelief. I hear that they are going to release the Mahavishnu 1974 show as well as the 84 band. I say bring them on all of them (even Stanley Clarke 1980), because Sony (baloney) aint doin a thing. In this particular show Shorter is the star, his solo on Black Market is mesmerizing as well as on Pastorius's Barbary Coast. Shorter is one of the best improvisers of all time, and here he is given so much space to play. Jaco actually was playing in the band for 3 or 4 months and he is killer all the way through. I wish this remastered version would have shown more camera angles with him playing, because he is spectacular. Nobody sounded like him at that time and no one sounded like the wizard Joe Zawinul on synths. Joe Zawinul is Weather Report!!! One of my favorite moments is when Jaco gets into the River People rift on Gilbraltar and you can see Zawinul start to hold in his drool from his mouth because it sounds so good. Then they take it to another level when Wayne comes in and they freak the music into another dimension. It's also great to see Joe and Jaco stare each other down, because it's a beautiful competitive collaborative effort. With this concert I can see why Jaco choose Alex Acuna on drums instead of Chester Thomas because they fit so well. This 76 show is better than the 78 Germany on Forecast Tomorrow in so many ways. I agree with fellow fans to release more Weather Report shows live because it was an event like no other. I wish the human race will be able to see the Belgrade show from 1980, because they go cosmic. But according to the Forecast Tomorrow booklet the master tape of that show was probably destroyed in 1999. Hopefully we can wish that it isn't and will see the light of day. Maybe Bill Graham's Wolfgang vault will release a show if they have any. Maybe by releasing these two DVD's more real listeners will take notice and request more and Sony will stop acting like this music never existed! Maybe we will see a Weather Report 1979 Montruex show, because they actually played there and it was taped, although I think there is a conspiracy with this show. Montrueux has a huge vault and it's amazing they are doing this because it's going to make a lot of die hard fusion fans so happy."

A Must have.

A. Forward | CA United States | 05/14/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Featuring the line-up that went on to record Heavy Weather, this DVD really shows what a great band Weather Report were, especially live. 30 years on, it still sounds remarkably fresh. Jaco Pastorius had only joined the band 3 months before this recording and this is one of the earliest films of the man who changed the world of bass playing. Anyone familiar with the broadcast versions of this concert will be pleased to know that it includes Dr Honoris Causa/Directions but saddened to know it excludes the 1 minute spontaneous duet between Joe and Jaco as the band begin to leave the stage. The music features many tracks from their 1976 release Black Market and if the piano intro to Dr Honoris Causa sounds familiar, that's because it is an embryonic version of "Birdland". The sound is excellent but the filming is a bit claustrophobic, probably because of the small stage and you often wish they would show the person currently soloing etc. Line-Up Joe Zawinul, Wayne Shorter, Jaco Pastorius, Alex Acuna and Manolo Badrena. At full retail price this is a great deal, so at discounted prices it is an even better deal, making it a must have DVD for any fan of this type of music."

Nice Caribean Weather

Jens-oscar Nergård | Oslo, Norway | 09/10/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I my opinion, the best of the recent DVD-releasings of two great WRs concerts from the golden years with Jaco Pastorius on bass. Amazing performances and caribian feel from the percussion duo Baderena and Acuna! (Why did Zawinul and Shorter change this winning team?) I will highly recommend this DVD - a must for all WR fans and the rest!"