Alex Acuña: "When you came to Weather Report, you were a member of Weather Report."

[@StephenStollmeyer]

I took a master class with Alex at Drummers Collective back in the early 90s. What a sweetheart of a guy and such a talent.

[@Panufo]

I was so honored to make an album with Alex in the 90s - a humble Quechua Indian who would share his testimony of Jesus with you (in a way that would make any musician geek out), then jet off to Europe to play with the Yellowjackets. Abe Laboriel was also on the dates. My bucket list took some serious hits that week.

[@ezee63]

Also had the pleasure to record a few albums with Alex and Abe. Two of the most humble and thankful musicians ive ever met.

[@fantomasfanto8469]

please mention the project i’ll check it out 😎

[@adamglasser-t1s]

Very moving and fascinating interview… Alex Acuna … he is a something else soul at every level ❤enormous respect ✊

[@johnhewitt1324]

I saw Alex play drums in a band that had Airto and Abraham Laboriel all Brazilian things. I could not get over his feel and dynamics and masterful touch.

[@thuryn.mitchell]

Glued to my screen the whole interview! Amazing, thanks 🙏🏼

[@justintuccimusic]

Thank you for another story and for sharing Jaco’s legacy

[@michaelgreen5206]

Love your drumming/percussion skills, Alex!!!🥁🥁🥁

[@caferrara]

You can see from the way he speaks that he is a man of faith.

[@aphillips1987]

The two pieces you played with Lyle Mays for the Spectrasonics people were great. Particularly #2 with Lyle choosing the fretless bass patch. It is incredible. And your drumkit sounds amazing, such beautiful subtle drumming, love it! ♥️👍

[@evanjazzista]

I always thought Jaco unfairly mistreated ex-Zappa member Chester Thompson. But then again, in the words of Joe Zawinul, this was the best thing that could happen to him, since he was recruited in both Genesis and Phil Collins band.

[@jonsmith848]

I met Chester @ a small music spot in Chicago. I was a young drummer/percussionist. Chester was in town with Genesis. Blessed Me & 2 Friends with 12th row tickets..

[@evanjazzista]

@satsukikorin Somehow I can't see your comment in here, only in the notifications, go figure... Basically Jaco didn't like Chester's drumming and thus was very pushy towards Zawinul to get rid of him, and have Alex on drums instead. That's just how life goes. Jaco was known to be arrogant (probably helped by his addictions), and Joe and Wayne didn't want to lose him: they went from playing colleges to playing stadiums thanks to Jaco. And truth be told, Chester is a great technician but has virtually no improvisative imagination as a player, which made his success with demanding bands like Zappa or Genesis: he doesn't get lost in ego-related arguments and plays what he's asked, and extremely well at that.

[@gilnicbobby]

⁠@@evanjazzistaDon’t know that you honestly know Chester well enough to make a statement about his improv skill set, but even if you do you’d be a real dick to post it on a social platform. Be better

[@reh331]

Yes, Chester was recruited by Phil Collins for his own band,. And Phil also wound up treating him like crap. Phil wasn't 'in charge' of Genesis, and they treated Chester very well.

[@wonder6789]

That iteration of WR was the GOAT. They were so hot live it was almost hard to take.

[@humanbeing5300]

Definitely a healthy group dynamic when they are all equal shareholders.

[@RichardBaubau]

There is no greatest weather report drummer....they were all brilliant

[@SWH2012]

We LOVE u, Alex. Muchas Gracias, Senior. And thanks for your story on the beautiful, one-of-a-kind Manolo Badrena, underrated still but what an amazing cat. Everybody ought to check out his work with Steve Khan's Eyewitness band (four albums in the 80s), Zawinul Syndicate (next to the African whirlwind Paco "always running late" Sery), Trio Mundo (two albums) and jazz piano legend Ahmad Jamal (RIP), next to New Orleans ace drummer Herlin Riley. He is THE shit when speaking of playing percussion on radar...intuition, improvisation, flow, colors!

[@Steve-mp7by]

Their greatest drummer

[@rhythmfield]

Certainly the greatest drummer in the group, but not superior to any of the other drummers. It was just the chemistry, the intensity and fire that Alejandro contributed was unmatched by any of the others for this particular music

[@keithwald5349]

@@rhythmfield Indeed. Omar was "not too bad." 😉

[@humanbeing5300]

Habla causa Alex

[@ernestoteruya]

Made in Peru 🟥⬜🟥

[@milo8796]

Any story about weather report is the shit

[@markkusyrjala7919]

Jaco did Santeria?

[@mirkomarkovic3438]

Mañolo

[@markkusyrjala7919]

@@mirkomarkovic3438 ok.. Alex talked so fast, didn't hear it

[@VIRGONOMICS]

No- the new percussionist did.

[@markkusyrjala7919]

@@VIRGONOMICS yes Manolo

[@MikeL-7]

Terrible name for a band though.

[@Steve-mp7by]

ugh you must be a Millennial or Gen-Z'er. Go back listening to your auto tune mumble rap

[@michaelwright1467]

Terrible name? What trip you on?

[@Steve-mp7by]

@@michaelwright1467 What do you expect from a Millennial? All they listen to is mumble rap

[@MrQmason]

It was a GREAT name for a band...... and they were just like the weather.....always changing and improvising

[@Steve-mp7by]

@@MrQmason Forget about explaining the meaning they still won't get it. Remember they're Millennials. They only understand mumble rap