From 1976 to mid-1978, Weather Report used to open most of their shows with a sample of the keyboard intro from "Mysterious Traveller," the title track of their 1974 album. After that, it would be used to introduce "Elegant People" or the "Badia" / "Boogie Woogie Waltz" medley—and at least in November, it would often evolve into a short jam before "Badia" and "Boogie Woogie Waltz."
This particular version is from their November 26, 1978 show at the Berkeley Community Theater, and is the most developed version that I've heard. Unlike on the November 28 version where Jaco is just soloing in his signature 16th note style, here he's supporting Zawinul and Wayne Shorter with fast walking bass. If anyone can identify what (if any) tune those changes are from, please let me know. This version of the "Badia" / "Boogie Woogie Waltz" medley may not be as unique as the jam that precedes it, but is still as good and explosive as usual.
This formation of Weather Report featured Wayne Shorter on sax, Joe Zawinul on keys, Jaco Pastorius on bass, and Peter Erskine on drums. While Jaco may not be at the forefront of this 20-minute medley, it's still very much worth hearing as his walking bass skills often go underappreciated.
Wayne Shorter, soprano sax
Joe Zawinul, keys
Jaco Pastorius, bass
Peter Erskine, drums
00:00 Mysterious Traveller (Jam)
05:56 Badia
12:52 Boogie Woogie Waltz
From the Berkeley Community Theater (Berkeley, California, U.S.A.), 11/26/1978.
Cover photo by Mike Prior (London, 1978).
https://linktr.ee/jacoarchive
Comments