Search - Weather Report :: Sportin Life

Worth it?

Richard Messenger | Qatar | 10/04/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If you come to this album wanting the same, wonderfully eccentric, invention of early WR (and the great Jaco in particular) you will probably be disappointed. If you want some pretty cool music, played with a funky, laid back groove, I don't think you can go far wrong. There are 4 or 5 WR albums I would grab first from the burning house, but I'm very fond of Sportin Life. Yes, Shorter generally takes the 'less is more' approach to extremes, but his solo on the beautiful Confians is gorgeous. Loved Marvin, love the fact that WR let 'What's going on' breath. I often wonder what the point of cover versions is, but they show a new angle. Corner Pocket is a frisky opener, Indescretions is a creeper which has grown on me over the years, Hot Cargo not one of my favourites , Pearl is a great groove and tune, Face on the Bathroom Floor is an interesting Shorter excercise, and Ice Pick Willy a joyous larf. Enough? Enough! Give it a chance."

The most underrated Weather Report recording

NDBx | New York, NY United States | 08/29/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For me, the most underrated Weather Report recording. Every time this group is mentioned the obvious choices are brought up. "Heavy Weather", "8:30", "Black Market', etc.



This recording, for me, is right up there with those. The playing is no less imspired, the world influences are legitimate and abundant. A very inventive and creative use of vocals. In truth I wish Pat Metheny, one of my favorite musicians had employed such interesting vocal effects in some of his group recordings.



This is as strong a line-up as any in the group history. You have Victor Bailey, Omar Hakim, Mino Cinelu, Joe Zawinul, Wayne Shorter and guest vocalists in ensemble passages with interesting harmonies.



"Hot Cargo" is an interesting, inventive, high energy piece, with those interesting, quirky vocal passages punctuated by driving percussion, interesting time signatures, Joe Zawinul's very interesting keyboards and Wayne Shorter in unison passages. This a very African feel to it. A unique time of feel. We're not talking in the typical percussive "Tin Tin Deo" kind of way. The vocals are much like tribal chants. At the same time this piece is very futuristic/progressive. Frankly as good as anything on



"Corner Pocket" - Has some strong Tenor Sax work by Wayne Shorter and driving beat propelled by Hakim and Cinelu. There are some very nice textures and embellishments laid down by Joe Zawinul on this. It cooks and it's funky. It makes you want to dance as well. All done in a unique way.



"Face on the Bathroom Floor" - is a melancholy ballad featuring atmospheric synths from Joe Zawinul and Wayne Shorter playing the melody in that unique slightly bitter way on soprano. It flows along and is a beautiful piece.



"Confians" - This one is totally unique for Weather Report and done absolutely beautifully. It features Mino Cinelu singing in a bit of a folk song. It's like a cool breeze off the ocean. A very good arrangment and very good vocal harmonies on the chorus. A very nice soprano solo by Wayne Shorter as they bring the piece home.



"Pearls on the Half Shell" has got a strong West Indies feel mixed in with a very good groove. It's a good time piece. Accessible but also interesting and fun.



"Ice Pick Willy" is a the show stopper. Interesting vocal harmonies and effects. The vocals work seamlessly with the instrumental portion and back again. Outstanding drumming and percussion. Good strong accents and they hit those accents hard. In this one Joe's electric piano approach conjures some Herbie Hancock while his synth approach which is often in unison with Wayne's tenor sounds like a section. There's that African call and response. This bears repeated listening. As good a piece as the group has ever done.



This recording is rhythmically interesting. Much moreso than some of their earliest recording which, to my ears, stayed within to much of the same mid-tempo paces with very few exception. Over time things opened up a bit.



This recording is one of their best. A fine example of the amalgamation of world influences, funk and jazz with lots' of fun mixed in.





"

Sporty Has Little Spice

Mr. Richard D. Coreno | Berea, Ohio USA | 02/15/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"The 1985 album was slated to be the last from the band, though a contractual agreement with Columbia Records yielded This is This! one year later.



Joe Zawinul was pushing the sound further into world music - which would solidly drive his 1986 solo effort, Dialects - with the rhythm section of Omar Hakim (d), Victor Bailey (b) and Mino Cinelu (per). Four vocalists, including Bobby McFerrin, add another new dimension to the soundscape.



The album includes four compositions by Zawinul and one each from Cinelu and Shorter, with a cover of What's Going On?, with the top cuts being Corner Pocket, Hot Cargo and Face on the Barroom Floor. This was a work in progress that would find more relevancy in a number of Zawinul projects, hence it is a sport with little of the spice that propelled the band to worldwide critical acclaim."