PDA

View Full Version : The Great Joe Zawinul is gone



Robert
September 11th, 2007, 04:06 AM
Joe Zawinul has been a huge inspiration for me. Another jazz legend gone, how sad.


VIENNA (Reuters) - Keyboardist Joe Zawinul, who played with Miles Davis and helped create the sound of jazz fusion, died from cancer in Vienna on Tuesday, local news agency APA reported, quoting his son Erich.

"Joe Zawinul was born on July 7, 1932 in earth time, and on September 11, 2007 in eternal time. He lives on," APA quoted Erich Zawinul as saying.

Zawinul, 75, had been admitted to the Wilhelmina Clinic in his native city last month. The hospital said it would give a statement later in the day.

Zawinul went to the United States in his 20s and found fame as a keyboardist and a composer in trumpet legend Davis's first electric band, playing on the "In a Silent Way" and "*****es Brew" albums that pioneered jazz fusion in the late 1960s.

In 1970 he founded Weather Report, a band that did much to bring electric piano, synthesizers and African and Middle Eastern rhythms to mainstream audiences in a jazz setting.

Zawinul has fronted the "Zawinul Syndicate" for the past 20 years. He had planned to give a concert in Vienna's concert hall on September 29.
Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSL1126091220070911

Spudman
September 11th, 2007, 08:13 AM
Too bad. I loved his stuff from way back.
Unfortunately no one escapes the reaper. At least Joe left a legacy of great music behind.

Robert
September 11th, 2007, 08:31 AM
Yes, he was very active, and I saw him live in Sweden in the mid 90s. It was phenomenal. Joe was a genius, one of the best jazz/improvisational players that ever lived.

jpfeifer
September 11th, 2007, 09:21 AM
That's really sad. I loved the stuff he did with Weather Report. He was a true legend.

-- Jim

R_of_G
September 11th, 2007, 10:53 AM
Earlier today, legendary jazz keyboardist Joe Zawinul [author of such classic songs as "Mercy Mercy Mercy," "Birdland," and "In a Silent Way"] lost his battle with cancer. He will be sorely missed.

Jimi75
September 11th, 2007, 11:53 AM
Soooooo sad! Joe was a genius, I loved his stuff, especially with Wheather Report.