Joe Zawinul Syndicate
Thursday, November 30, 2006
The ex-Weather Report keyboard maestro Joe Zawinul can thank his ox-like constitution and tireless music making for the staggering energy he musters while heading towards his 80th birthday.
One of the most important keyboardists and creative forces on the international jazz stage, Zawinul has been a key part of many landmark developments in jazz over the last 40 years. His move from Austria in 1958 to take up a scholarship at Berklee, propelled him into a legendary period in the US jazz scene. Cutting his teeth with the likes of Dinah Washington, Maynard Ferguson and Slide Hampton, it was his nine year stint with Cannonball Adderley which brought him to the world’s attention and inspired the first of many classic tunes, ‘Mercy, Mercy, Mercy’. His brief but portentous encounter with Miles Davis coincided with Miles’ move towards an electric sound. Zawinul’s compositions and distinctive keyboard sound were a fundamental part of the pivotal albums, ‘In a Silent Way’ (on which he composed the title track) and ‘Bitches Brew’.
In 1970 Zawinul and Wayne Shorter continued a relationship initiated in Miles’ band and founded what has proved to be one of the most continuously influential jazz groups of the last 30 years, Weather Report. Harnessing the power and theatricality of rock and R n B but maintaining strong jazz roots, the band captured the essence of the fusion movement more successfully than any other jazz band. This prolific partnership produced 17 albums over the course of some 15 years, including ‘Black Market’ and the massively successful ‘Heavy Weather’, with an evolving line-up including Jaco Pastorius, Peter Erskine and Victor Bailey. In 1985 he and Shorter decided it was time for them to explore their individual musical dreams and after Weather Update, the Zawinul Syndicate was born.
The Zawinul Syndicate has continued to provide him with vital channel through which to discover and develop new paths in music. After signing to ESC Records in the late 90’s he released his Grammy nominated albums ‘My People’ and ‘World Tour’. Far from slowing down, Zawinul has continued to forge exciting and distinctive developments in music. At 70, with the release of ‘Faces & Places’, he has proved himself as open to new influences and inspirations as he was when his career began. His extensive travels and a shrinking world have provided new inspirations. Absorbing the essence of musics from around the world, Zawinul digests and redefines them to produce music, which is as vibrant and fresh now as his landmark work ‘In a Silent Way.’ In the past two years, Zawinul’s live shows at Ronnie Scott’s and Hammersmith Apollo have proved that his vitality and sense of showmanship are as strong as ever. Fuelled by his palpable excitement about the musicians in his band, Zawinul is yet again leading the way for a new world music.
In 1970 Zawinul and Wayne Shorter continued a relationship initiated in Miles’ band and founded what has proved to be one of the most continuously influential jazz groups of the last 30 years, Weather Report. Harnessing the power and theatricality of rock and R n B but maintaining strong jazz roots, the band captured the essence of the fusion movement more successfully than any other jazz band. This prolific partnership produced 17 albums over the course of some 15 years, including ‘Black Market’ and the massively successful ‘Heavy Weather’, with an evolving line-up including Jaco Pastorius, Peter Erskine and Victor Bailey. In 1985 he and Shorter decided it was time for them to explore their individual musical dreams and after Weather Update, the Zawinul Syndicate was born.
The Zawinul Syndicate has continued to provide him with vital channel through which to discover and develop new paths in music. After signing to ESC Records in the late 90’s he released his Grammy nominated albums ‘My People’ and ‘World Tour’. Far from slowing down, Zawinul has continued to forge exciting and distinctive developments in music. At 70, with the release of ‘Faces & Places’, he has proved himself as open to new influences and inspirations as he was when his career began. His extensive travels and a shrinking world have provided new inspirations. Absorbing the essence of musics from around the world, Zawinul digests and redefines them to produce music, which is as vibrant and fresh now as his landmark work ‘In a Silent Way.’ In the past two years, Zawinul’s live shows at Ronnie Scott’s and Hammersmith Apollo have proved that his vitality and sense of showmanship are as strong as ever. Fuelled by his palpable excitement about the musicians in his band, Zawinul is yet again leading the way for a new world music.