Black Market

Weather Report was built on the tension between Wayne ShorterWayne Shorterウェイン・ショーター's and Joe ZawinulJoe Zawinulジョー・ザヴィヌル's opposite sensibilities. Zawinul controlled structure and groove; Shorter threaded unpredictable lines through the gaps.

Peruvian-born Alex AcuñaAlex Acuñaアレックス・アクーニャ joined Weather Report as percussionist in October 1975, switching to drums in April 1976 after Chester Thompson left, and remained until October 1977, contributing to Black MarketBlack MarketWeather Report · 1976 and Heavy WeatherHeavy WeatherWeather Report · 1977.

Black MarketBlack MarketWeather Report · 1976 was Jaco PastoriusJaco Pastoriusジャコ・パストリアス's first studio recording with Weather Report. He appeared on only two tracks — one his own composition "Barbary Coast." But even in this limited debut, his presence signaled the beginning of the band's next era. Heavy Weather would follow.

In 1970, Airto Moreira laid down polyrhythmic percussion on Miles Davis's fusion landmark Bitches Brew — and that same year turned up on one of the era's gentlest folk-pop albums, built on little more than acoustic guitar and voice.

Don Alias was brought into the 1969 sessions as a percussionist. On "Miles Runs the Voodoo Down" he turned out to be the only player in the room who could lay down the New Orleans beat he had brought in, so he ended up behind the drum kit himself. The most recognizable groove on Bitches Brew (1970) is played by the man filed under percussion.