Peter Wockner's Q&A with drummer/composer John Prior 14 June 2010

Historical article recovered from a Wayback capture dated 2018-02-24.

At last… a world class tribute to one of the greatest and most influential jazz-rock fusion groups, Weather Report. When bandleader Miles Davis spearheaded a musical revolution in the late sixties, by fusing jazz sensibilities with electric rock instruments, two of the key contributors both as players and composers were Austrian-born keyboardist Josef Zawinul and American saxophonist Wayne Shorter. In the early seventies, Joe and Wayne formed Weather Report to further explore and expand the fusion of jazz, funk, rock, latin and world music. With an evolving line-up of virtuoso musicians, the innovative quintet succeeded in enthusing both jazz and rock audiences. Weather Report’s seventh album, “Heavy Weather” was an international best-seller and is regarded as one of the greatest and most accessible jazz-fusion recordings. With its impeccable groove, melody, harmony and dynamics, it even included a ‘hit song’, Birdland, which has been covered by numerous jazz and pop artists. The band’s new recruit on fretless electric bass guitar, Jaco Pastorius, introduced a dazzling array of new techniques such as harmonics, intricate rapid-fire runs and complex chord voicings. Coupled with his unpredictable, flamboyant showmanship, Jaco is widely considered to be the Hendrix of electric jazz bass and is one of the most influential bassists of all time.

Experience the jazz-groove magic of Weather Report and inspiring originals by Mysterious Travellers featuring some of Australia’s most gifted musicians. LIVE DATES / All shows: masterclass 5pm, dinner 7pm, show 9pm

• 3rd July - Thornbury Theatre Melbourne,

• 7th July - The Basement Sydney > Joe Zawinal’s birthday!

• 1st August - Lizotte’s Newcastle

• 12th August - The Vanguard Newtown

• Dale Barlow - sax (Dizzy Gillespie, Art Blakey, Billy Cobham) • Fabian Hevia - percussion (Lulo Reinhardt, Catholics, Wanderlust) • John Prior - drums (Adrian Belew, Jackie Orszaczky, Matt Finish) • Bill Risby - keys (Bobby Shew, William Galison, Maria Schneider) • Phil Scorgie - bass (Lee Ritenour, Crossfire, Daly Wilson Big Band)

Peter Wockner:

How did the idea of a tribute to Weather Report come about and what has the level of interest been like to date ?

John Prior:

After jamming together at blues legend Beachhead’s recent wake, my good friend since primary school Dale Barlow and I formed Mysterious Travellers as an excuse to improvise with mates and light beer while there was still time. We grew up on Weather Report, especially their 1977 album Heavy Weather released in our mid-teens, so this is common ground for us.

Chris Richards at The Basement thought a Weather Report tribute was overdue, he said we’ll never see the real thing again, and he was right because the response has been tremendous.

PW:

How difficult was it to choose the artists for this tribute show bearing in mind the very individual voices in the original band Weather Report?

JP:

I made three phone calls to enlist the four most brilliant musicians for the gig, Dale Barlow, Bill Risby, Phil Scorgie and Fabian Hevia. They all love Weather Report religiously, so I only had to ask four times and they were in before I could hang up.

PW:

As the drummer in the group who have been your major influences in the jazz/rock genre?

JP:

My brother Rob and school friends introduced to me to Miles Davis, Mahavishnu Orchestra and known subsidiaries including Weather Report, Billy Cobham, John McLaughlin, Jan Hammer and Jeff Beck. We used to attend Friday evening concerts at the Sydney Con featuring students and teachers led by Don Burrows, who was at Bondi Beach Primary School with our dad Bob in the thirties. These concerts, and seeing bassist Phil Scorgie with Crossfire and Dale, Chris Abrahams, Lloyd Swanton and Andrew Gander with The Benders, were memorable yardsticks in my formative years.

More recently, I’ve been inspired by the current local jazzgroove scene with Guy Le Claire, Hamish Stuart, Steve Hunter, Sean Wayland, Tal Wilkenfeld, James Muller and so many more!

PW:

Cindy Blackman has just released a tribute to Tony Williams called “Another Lifetime” and a number of other especially American artists are starting to ‘re-discover’ if you like the ‘fusion’ sounds of the 1970’s. Are you noticing a renewed interest in the music?

JP:

I’ve always had a growing interest in fusion, but it’s difficult to compare the veracity of my passion with others because some may have lapsed privately for a while.

PW:

What was it about Weather Report that captured both critical and popular appeal?

JP:

Weather Report was a holistic fusion of so many cultures, they’re world music sex symbols.

PW:

The idea of masterclasses prior to these performances is a great idea? What format will the tuition take? Is it going to be specific to the music of Weather Report

JP:

We discuss, rearrange and perform Weather Report compositions together, demonstrate individual instrument techniques, answer questions and giveaway products from our sponsors Fender, Tama, Sabian and Birdland.

Dale teaches at the Sydney Conservatorium, bassist Phil Scorgie and percussuionist Fabian Hevia teach at JMC and pianist Bill Risby is one of Australia’s foremost jazz exponents, so I’m really hoping to learn something useful.

PW:

Some purists might question the idea of a tribute, but you won’t be simply trying to re-create the music will you? What can Weather Report and fusion fans expect from these shows?

JP:

Weather Report fans, fusion fans and even discerning jazz purists coming to a Mysterious Travellers show can expect to experience Australia’s foremost improvising musicians (and me!) performing some of the most inspiring jazzgroove music ever composed, plus exquisite food in historic venues with excellent acoustics and production.

http://www.mysterioustravellers.com