Black Market

Good music, not a awesome as Heavy Weather, but still is a great album. The first track is the best.

Good music, Low quality Cd. It looks fake. Not a Blue Spec Cd, they send me a regular one.

I already own the American remaster from around 2002 which was an improvement over the original CD release which I also own. Later I bought the Japanese dsd remastered boxed set (2007) which was clearer but sorely lacked bottom. So when I saw that once again some of the WR catalog was available in the blu spec format, I was highly skeptical at first. Well, I'm listening to it right now and I have to say, it's not just a little better-it's noticeable better. This version has cleaner, more defined highs. The cymbals have never sounded this open. The kick and bass are much punchier, although still lacking compared to contemporary fusion offerings. But considering the age of the source material, I am blown away. I am definitely hearing details and separation I never heard before, not even from the Japanese dsd version.Darn: Now I'm gonna have to pick these up one by one. Too bad their entire catalog wasn't released in blu spec. And especially Tale Spinnin, for which I have a special affection. I am really impressed by this disc, and if blu spec always yields such dramatic results, I'm going to have to start looking at the catalog a little more closely.Just found out about blu spec cd2. Damn. Guess there might be something better than this, but how much better? Don't know if I'm willing to plunk down the extra cash to find out.

If you're reading this you already know this is one WPs best albums. This review is concerned solely with the remastering of this new version. Again, like Tail Spinnin', which I already reviewed, this was already remastered in 2002 by Bob Belden. Mark Wilder was involved in the dsd part of that project, and he was in charge of this new series as well. At first I though this a weaker sounding remaster, for when compared to the Belden supervised version it seemed less punchy at first, and overall less "loud" . However, after listening to Black Market I am beginning to reassess these new discs.My final verdict (written a couple of months later,) is that this series of remasters IS shy on the bottom, to the extent that it bothers me. Bob Belden's remasters are still the best out there. Unfortunately he only did Black Market, Tale Spinnin, Heavy Weather and Mysterious traveler. Wish they would give him the whole catalog. His versions are punchier and in my opinion, more musical overall.And if you really want to have your mind blown, get the SACD surround version of Mysterious Traveler. It's actually Ron Malo's original quad mix turned into a sort of surround 4.1 (no center channel,) but it is simply outrageous. Now if they would only release the quad version of Tale Spinnin!As far as this series goes, while it may appeal to collectors for the authentic mini sleeves and inserts, my feeling is that there will be better reissues as the technology progresses. At any rate, I hope this is NOT the last word on this release, because it sounds quite wimpy.

Real music, from real people ...its so open and like a painting that ever changes from the side your looking. This is a confersation between musicians,that never been that close than "the silent way" period of Miles Davis. The question and anwsering during the whole album is amazing.The sounds of Zawinul are huge...never had that clear sound from a virtual plug-in.The Korg Vocoder is working like a morphing Boedha singing his prayers. This is a timeless record, pure gold and diamond.

Black Market caught my attention decades ago and I still love it!That's why I will pay for the Blu-Spec CD version. The remaster is areal treat and costs less than $10 delivered from a marketplace sellerso there's the rub! This purchase is "collector driven".....Don't need it...but I want it and I paid the price! I will comeback with a sonic comparison....UPDATE....OCTOBER 28th 2013....The discarrived today...not in a cardboard repro...but a standard jewel case withthe Obi as is the norm in the Japanese import universe....There is a little"brightness" detected on my system...Denon DJ/Polk/Hafler....The price hasalso dropped, about $5.00 and that's a drag. Most will only need the domestic!

Decepcionante. La ligera mejora en el sonido respecto al original, no vale 32€.Ademas no hay ningun credito.

Weather Reportが1976年にリリースした6thアルバム。本作品録音終盤に後のキーマンとなるベーシストのJaco Pastoriusが初めて参加した作品です。音楽的にはアフリカの民族音楽から強い影響を受けたワールド・フュージョンを展開しています。Weather Reportの代表曲にもなったポップな楽曲『Black Market』、Joe Zawinulがかつて在籍したバンドのリーダーでレコーディング時点の約4か月前に亡くなったCannonball Adderleyに捧げられた楽曲『Cannonball』、Jaco Pastoriusのファンキーなベースが印象的な『Barbary Coast』等秀逸な曲が満載です。そして今回SACD盤を購入しましたが音の密度が濃く厚みが増し、各パート楽器の輪郭が明確になりよりクリアーな音質となっています。

本作からジャコ・パストリアスがベースに参加。といっても曲２、６の２曲のみだけだが。他の曲はアルフォンソ・ジョンソンがベースを担当。そういう意味ではメンバー編成的には過渡期ということになるが、ジャケットや冒頭のあまりにも有名な曲ブラック・マーケットで楽園志向を見せるなど、ＷＲのサウンドの大きな転機となったのが本作。多くの作品を残したＷＲであるから、人によって好みの時期・作品が異なって当然だが、私にとってはジャコ在籍時のＷＲがベストだから本作以降重要な作品が暫く続くことになる。ＷＲのサウンドの転機とはまたジョー・ザヴィヌルのリーダー色が濃くなったということでもある。本作はザヴィヌルのキーボードが大活躍の作品だが、ウェイン・ショーターのサックスが華を添え、そしてリズム陣がしっかりサポートしている。決してザヴィヌルのワンマン・バンドになった訳ではない。本作はやはり７０年代のエレクトリック・ジャズの水準の高さを示す作品といえよう。特にお薦めの曲はブラック・マーケットと曲の構成の見事さ・美しさにため息が出る２曲目のキャノン・ボール。ブラック・マーケットに関しては衝撃の８：３０のライヴ演奏（まるでジャコのベースが終始リードし、キーボードやサックスが伴奏のようにすら聞こえる）の印象が強すぎるが、本作のものもじっくり聴くと自由奔放さにおいては８：３０のものに及ばないものの、各楽器のバランスがよくとれた名演であることがわかる。やはりこの曲は名曲だ。

ヘヴィー・ウェザーが安かったので、前作のコレもセット購入。ジャコ・パストリアスのフレットレスベース最高!!ジャコは30代で死んだそうですが、ザヴィヌルやショーターは健在なのかかなぁ〜