Dialects, stylized as Di•a•lects and alternatively known as Di•a•lects, Music for solo synthesizers and voices, is the fourth studio album by Joe Zawinul which was released in 1986. It was created by Zawinul alone with his programmed synths and rhythm machines, using vocoders on his own vox and importing Bobby McFerrin's improvised onomatopoeics and a vocal trio singing in a Zawinul-created language on other tracks."
Reception Pablo Guzmán at Spin said, "Zawinul prefers an old-fashioned full-frontal attack, synthesizers sounding clarion calls of change. His album is basically synths and voices . Zawinul's rhythmic and harmonic riffs, plus his bop/funk arrangements, all add up to this LP sounding like Prince and his keyboards slipped thru a time warp darkly and hooked up with young Miles and Diz."
The AllMusic reviewer concluded, "This is an important, overlooked album because it proves that electronic instruments can reach your emotions and shake your body when played by someone who has bothered to learn how to master them."
Track listing All tracks composed by Joe Zawinul "The Harvest" – 6:04 "Waiting for the Rain" – 7:38 "Zeebop" – 4:50 "The Great Empire" – 3:57 "Carnavalito" – 6:18 "6 A.M./Walking on the Nile" – 7:06 "Peace" – 6:49
Personnel Musicians Joe Zawinul – synthesizers, vocals Bobby McFerrin – vocals Carl Anderson – vocals Dee Dee Bellson – vocals Alfie Silas – vocals
Production Joe Zawinul – producer, design George Butler – executive producer Peter Kelsey – engineer Paul Ericksen – second engineer Bernie Grundman – mastering Corvalan-Condliffe Management – management Joseph Futterer – art direction Richie Powell – art direction Vivian Bremner – illustration
See also Weather Report, Sportin' Life (1985)
References