Brown Street

If you like Big Band AND Zawinul, you'll like this one. However, I like Zawinul a lot, and have been listening to him since he was first with: Miles Davis, Cannonball Adderly, and (my favorite) Weather Report, and prefer Zawinul's smaller groups with top musicians of a like inclination. This album is too much Big Band and not enough Zawinul for me; AND I believe it removes Zawinul from his preferred element: smaller groups with virtuosi musicians. This Big Band sounds like studio pros, and they take waaay too many solos. Zawinul is buried somewhere in the background for the most part. The Band was good - but not many were great enough to stand on their own (the drummer was pretty good though). So if you like Big Band doing Zawinul,then this is for you; but if you like Zawinul himself, then it might not be. For me this album was over-orchestrated, over-arranged, and over-produced (even though I prefer "live" albums). I would have given this album one or two stars. but I recognize that my disaffection for Big Band in general, contributes to my dislike of this album. It may be one of my least favorite Joe Z. albums.

If you are reading this you no doubt already agree that Zawinul, Shorter, et. al. left an indelible and unmatched legacy on what we now know as jazz "fusion". Unlike most of what is trying to pass for jazz today, their music was and still is honest and real. I am listening to these tracks now with a grin from ear to ear! You cannot help but catch the fever of these tracks and picture Joe on stage with this big band - God rest his soul! With all due to respect to that other fellow's opinions, these big band arrangements do translate well, they swing and these are some of the best WR grooves I have ever heard. By the way, check how Joe gives tribute to Jaco by incorporating the freight train sample from Jaco's compositon Barbary Coast into this disc's version of Night Passage.

This is an album to be reckoned with. Victor Bailey's super-fast licks and solid basslines, Nathaniel Townsley's rapid fills and steady beat, and Joe Zawinul's genius solos and accompanyment are only a few of the things that make this a great album. Zawinul supplies beautiful and at times delightfully bizzare compositions while Vince Mendoza brilliantly arranges the tunes for big band. This is one of my favorite albums of all time!

Nice album but why is Itunes charging so much? You can get the CD new from Amazon cheaper. There's only 90 minutes of music on this disc. I wish the powers that be would check on things like this before they slap a price on it. Oh, the music is great. Vince Mendoza does his usual awesome job.

Always been curious as to how WR would translate to big band: now I have my answer; not so good. The tunes are as timeless as ever, as is Mr. Zawinul's playing; as usual, he is burning up the bandstand. Any live WR version beats these hands down. The numbers of players have sucked the freedom right out of the music. It is a testament to his genius as a player (and Alex and Victor) that he could move this band into a groove. JZ: love you madly and miss you so,so bad.

Heard this on KPLU in Seattle. I was dancing in the car. Loaded the DVD on my big room system; you just can't sit and listen; the music and arrangements have you moving and jumping. Great big band jazz with a terrific latin beat. Love the album!

Your footprints that you leave behind, on your journey.......I have cherished, with all my heart. This is TIMELESS........ Let me shout to the world, This is Zawinul... Thank you Joe.