C&L's Late Nite Music Club Celebrating Joe Zawinul
By Nicole Belle Monday Sep 10, 2007 10:03pm
Joe Zawinul: July 7, 1932 - September 11, 2007
Guest-blogged by C&Ler Jeff
Needless to say, this maybe one of the saddest mournings of my life. Joe Zawinul was my number one inspiration. I don't blog so, to my friends, I think openly...
There have been many great musicians who have experimented with the roots of jazz. Their donations are evident for those with the tenacity to explore the history of jazz.
But for the non-musician, I believe that Joe, almost single handedly, brought Africa and, as or, more importantly "organicness" back into jazz. At a time when the music was getting more and more clinical and antiseptic (remember "Popcorn" or "Switch On (fill in the blank)". When precision and virtuosic dexterity were closing the door to the general public, making jazz "music for musicians", Joe formed, what would become, THE jazz super-group that made the textures, rhythms and sonorities (AND virtuosic dexterity) of jazz accessible to the average 'joe'. He wasn't afraid or intimidated (always willing to box for his position) by those jazz purists that considered jazz to be "a music apart". He was an 'imagination' designer willing to use whatever tools where available to create a musical scene and draw the listener into it.
I love playing jazz. I love toying with rhythm. I love 'playing out' even when I'm not in doubt, because of what Joe Zawinul brought to jazz. This is a day to rejoice in the gifts that Joe (and his fellow Weather Reporters and Syndicators) gave the world at large.
We have people using this day as a symbol to divide and destroy cultures. But then we have Joe, who saw, heard and created beauty from the amalgam of world cultures. This is what we should celebrate every day. It is what this day will signify to me from now on. Peace to all, and to Joe.
(Nicole:) And in the interest in coming together and bipartisanship on this day especially, we give you Noel Sheppard (of Newsbusters)'s appreciation of the artistry and gifts of Joe Zawinul.
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Nice post Jeff - thanks.
A fine appreciation. I enjoyed his music for years.
I thought Joe was fantastic when I saw him with Weather Report. Kenyon College, 1975.
I hope heaven sounds like the keyboards in Miles' "In a Silent Way".
A black woman nearly becomes the victim of a W. Virginia massacre.
Hey, if you go to the Fox website, by typing in Fox in google, let the whole page load and then click on back page.
Notice anything funny?
The same page loads up again! Fox can then count you as TWO visits, which means Fox actually has closer to HALF the number of hits on the internet.
Something to "chew"...
Primitivo and Come Sunday Two favorites from the Cannonball Adderly Septet, of which Joe Zawinul was such a vital contributor. Thanks for all the wonderful music Joe. Thanks for everything.
Was going to say it sounded like a Yellowjackets song whose name I can't remember that went 'do do dit, do do dit, dooo... didded dout dout'. See statment on wiki that YJ "sometimes playing original compositions that sounded like Joe Zawinul at his most melodic." So maybe I heard them playing one of his songs?
It's still a bunch of noodles for me.
Joe and Weather Report. Listening to these guys was an "out of body" experience.
Sorry, links don't seem to work, try this http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=_6NGTyXyguw and http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=l3MWSpsRn-0
Damn.
Joe's keyboards in the 70's were amazing.
He could make these totally organic, emotive sounds from those primitive synths.
I saw him play with weather report and besieds the freakin out of this world music that was revolutionary in 76, it was really interesting to watch the dynamic between him and Jaco Pastorious. Joe was like the stern dad giving Jaco these, 'son, tone it down a bit' looks, Jaco laughing and turning it up louder.
I'm playing black market right now in tribute.
Damn! That's cool!
So sorry to hear of Joe's passing. With Weather Report being one of the very few truly fusion bands to put it all together. With his corroborations with Miles and Cannonball as well as all the rest. The world is just a bit dimmer with his passsing. Joe was all the things we could hope to be from multi-cultural to regular guy. He didn't need a law to tell him or a reason to be that caused him to do well.
"All Hail The Forever Ones"
Teen Town
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDQlSSOXU6A
One of my favorite piano solos of Joe's was on Fast City. Can't find a vid.
This is just sad. An incredible voice is no longer with us. Thank mother nature he was recorded and his music will live forever. This is one of the reasons I come to this blog. I don't just get political news, but also news about many of the things I love. I'll miss Joe. Every time I hear "Birdland" I get so happy. It's such joyful music. Makes me want to get up and dance. I can't sit still. (and I know it was written by Jaco Pastorious, but Joe helped make it rock) Thanks for bringing me the information about Joe. And I agree. 9/11 will now become the date I will celebrate his life and music.
Cat could play.
Thanks for those you tubes, guys.
C&Lers,
Thanks for letting me share my grief with you all this evening. Joe meant a lot to me, and his passing has really turned my world upside down.
Noel
My friends and I all were inspired by listening
to Weather Report, RTF, Miles Bitches Brew,
Mahavisnu Orchestra....
Zawinul left us so much music to listen to...
WR's 'Sweet Nighter' & 'Mysterious Traveler'
are still some of my favorite sides.....
Watching Joe and Wayne play 'In A Silent Way' was
always a beautiful thang!
Noel shepard, you're not alone in mourning the great Zawinul.
There are thousands like us.
The afterlife has more talent than we do on earth after this week.
'First Writing Since...(revised)'-Suheir Hammad - Def Poetry Jam
http://youtube.com/watch?v=40hzLCdIulM
"People saying this was bound to happen
Lets not forget US transgretions
Hold Up
I live here
These are my Friends,
and Fam
Me
In those buildings
..and we're not bad people,
do not support America's bullying
Can I just have half a second to feel bad?
..
..
Across the river burning rubber and limbs,
rescuers tramatized.
Skylines brought back to human size.
No longer taunting gods.
I Cried,
when I saw those build collapse on themselves
like a broken heart..."
Noel Sheppard @ 18:
Sorry, was totally oblivious that that is what your post was about. I just jumped in and listen to the tunes.
Not certain if this helps. But I've always felt that nobody is dead as long as there's someone who remembers them.
Thanks for sharing.
Ok.
I'm listening to the last 2 minutes of "A remark you made" from heavy weather.
Tearing up.
For those that only know of Joe's WR days, here a little more context and a small sampling of the breadth of his greatness.
Keyboardist/Composer/Bandleader Joe Zawinul (Cannonball Adderly, Dinah Washington, Maynard Ferguson, Miles Davis, Weather Report, The Joe Zawinul Syndicate) Composer of Mercy, Mercy, Mercy; A Night in Tunisia; In A Silent Way; Birdland; A Remark You Made... Founder of "Weather Report" arguably the most popular and influential jazz group ever and the first to be so successful as to be called "Super-Group".
Nicole, Thanks for getting this up. I'm honored that you posted my thoughts.
I was so frustrated to see that none of news services had anything on this.
Thank you C&L!
Noel- what Thing Fish so eloquently said.
Sorry too for being so quick to post before considering the thread.
Take care.
peace.
Noel- Thing Fish spoke sweeter words than I have, but I too wanted to apologize for being quick in my posting, and subsequently way off topic. This is the first time I have heard of Joe Zawinul; good stuff.
Take care.
peace.
I agree that if Zawinul never did anything else, this transcendant playing on "A Remark You Made" will grant his immortality.
Somewhere tonight two old friends are reunited, making the music of the spheres.
Zawinul penned two of my favorite tunes - "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" and "In a Silent Way".
And I never burned through a record or turned so many kids on to fusion like I did with Sweetnighter.
Incidentally, if you can get a hold of Zawinul's version of "In a Silent Way", you can hear just how dense harmonically that tune was intended to be, not like the stripped down one on Miles' record (which is also extremely beautiful).
Mr. Zawinul lived in Pasadena for several years. I met him on many occasions during this time due to a friendship with a neighbor. One afternoon on a visit to Mr. Zawinul's home, my friend let slip that I was a pianist and Mr. Zawinul insisted I play for him. A Fender Rhodes was my instrument of choice and I proceeded to humiliate myself by trying too hard. Mr. Zawinul scolded me, "Don't play. . .FEEL!!!." He explained that I had the tools and should use them properly. "Play the song, not the keys". The best advice a (then) teen aged keyboard player ever received. While he will be sorely missed, his legacy is rich and will live on.
Jeff@24,
Did he really compose "A Night in Tunisia"... I always thought Dizzy wrote that tune?
BTW, excellent post and I share your grief and love for Joe.
Weather Report's "Birdland" was my introduction to jazz - and, for a while, I wanted to BE Wayne Shorter.
Those were some heady days and some great players going in new directions. Thank you Joe & Jaco & all the rest who led the way & are leading still.
a remark you made ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InZq9TR6SKQ
It's another sad day in Music Land...Music is the great healer...
Moose@30,
Your, of course, correct. My fake book has it mis-credited. But all the rest are Joe... sorry for the mistake.
jeff @ 34:
Moose
Bob Dylan-Most Likely You Will Go Your Way (& I'll Go Mine)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCeKkJlMJDQ
Not a fusion fan, but I have a great memories of an outdoor Weather Report concert around 1980 with the most beautiful girl I ever dated. :D
RIP Josef Zawinul, whose immaculately inclusive vision and cornerstone compositions will live forever. "In a Silent Way" changed my life irreversibly.
Thank you so much for everything, Joe.
ELP: Pictures At An Exhibition -
http://youtube.com/watch?v=l3zUOvKl5ZA
lafin! You're alive!
99 @ 40:
did ya think I was goin to kill myself?
Hey LG (and 99)!!!!
I'll dedicate this to LG (99, don't think that this song is about you!!!! ;-) ), a little Toto -
http://youtube.com/watch?v=73o3Mu1GK-k
Well, I thought you might have when you were so quiet for so long. You were an awfully unhappy camper last time I checked, and, damn! I worry. I'm much relieved.
Stanley, dear, that song always really cheers me up. Thanks. lafin's okay and Toto loves me... :-P
99 @ 43:
Well I was sick for some time, and then Ma Bell crossed my lines and my DSL was out for four days, just came back today. I'm lookin into cable next!
Stanley Rosenthal @ 42:
Hey stan, I think 99 and Toto got it from the same place, Get Smart!
99, I think the dude talking in the intro to that got it wrong, said that 99 was Toto's first hit here in the States. But I recall 'Hold the Line' being a *houmonguous* (from their first album) before '99' was released (on their 2nd. album.)
LG -
> I think 99 and Toto got it from the same place, Get Smart!
Well, duh! :-)
(I don't know if this relates, but I'm gonna post it anyWAY) Toto: St. George and the Dragon -
http://technohippie.com/geeklog/public_html/mediagallery/media.php?s=200...
Stanley Rosenthal @ 47:
My memory's not that good, Stan.
And I got "Agent 99" as a nickname before I got on the tubes. My ex was known as Maxwell Smart because he reminded the shrinks of the intro to Get Smart... having to go through all those doors and gates and weird maneuvers to get to HQ. I shortened it to just "99" because some people would refer to me as "Agent" for short and it was getting on my nerves.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2v240bYbbrM
...food for thought....
I use to live in garbervill,ca with a girl named - Rosanna-
Toto
http://youtube.com/watch?v=xuD746QqPp4
Wow, what a loss.
99 of 'Get Smart' fame reminds me of more than one person. First, 2, reminds me of Stephanie Miller. :-)
And she reminds me of Grace Slick -
http://youtube.com/watch?v=6xhYk9PEmXA
And she reminds me of Tara Sloan -
http://youtube.com/watch?v=TXTfBJDnPBc
And she riminds me of the lead singer of Shocking Blue who unfortunately passed last year -
http://youtube.com/watch?v=gf3h8CoWC14
The doc, I mean dad says I need my sleep, so GNA!
86 and I used to stay at the Motel Garberville frequently when cruising timber for PG&E clearances. He played this song really loud on his truck stereo while we were having our lunch breaks in the middle of nowhere.
I don't know what to say....I'm a keyboards player and I live with my bass player. We're both kind of numb right now...
A genius has departed...what an amazing heart and vision Joe Zawinul had...one of Western Music's transformative figures without a doubt.
There's a lot of fantastic pianists out there, and a lot of very accomplished jazz men.
But there are very few who transformed the genre with their vision and the power of their improvisational ideas.
Joe was one of the few, no question about it.
99 -
> 86 and I used to stay at the Motel Garberville ...
I've heard a great parody song based on Hotel California titled Hotel Minnesotta (Al Franken would be proud of it, if he wasn't running for the Senate :-) ) ...
My parody idea based on Senator Larry Crag: "Toedance, Through the bathroom, To the middle stall, Toedance, Through the bathroom, With me"
Heh. Stan. :-P
This is dedicated to Steph 1, 2 (I only call her that because I know it turns her on when a man describes her like that), Toto: Mama -
http://youtube.com/watch?v=mhe7VjsIBe4
Yikes! I gotta get up at 8! It's late! GN, Stan. xoxox
[...] Crooks and Liars [...]
GN 99, I guess it will have to wait for 'Another Night' (Camel) for me to ask you the ultimate question: Can \you tell me where I might find the hydra? ;-)
Camel: Another Night -
http://youtube.com/watch?v=sFZFclE6Ubk
Joe influenced a couple of generations of musicians,he was playing concerts up until about a month before he passed.I'm glad he passed when he was in Austria.I'm sure in the hospital he was in they treated him with the dignity he deserved.He was a friend and an artist who's work I respected and loved over the last 40 years.Check Out Nubian Sundance from Mysterious Traveler and a Remark You Made from Heavey Weather.
Also Night Passage-real genius
Peace, jason
Mercy, mercy, mercy. A Joe tune. Got no links that aint suck.
Screw "the spirit of bipartisanship." They're evil and shouldn't get a link.
(Their post is as lame as their politics anyway. Conservatives don't understand art, except as something to be banned.)
They go in 3's so it seems....at times.
Max, Luciano, and now Joe...
RIP
Don't overlook his tenure with Cannonball Adderly. Backing up one of the most swinging sax players and penning great hits like "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy.
Andy
He was the best. This is my favorite Weather Report song, of all time: (sorry no live video)
A Remark You Made
Just an incredible piece.
RIP Joe.
Birdland makes my dick itch, and Pastorious is an a-hole.
Bitches Brew is fantastic, though. In a Silent Way is his Chef d'Oeuvre!
I've been rediscovering the Weather Report albums I used to have on vinyl lately. I had forgotton how far ahead of everyone Weather Report was. They were the first ones to explore African music, and to embrace electronics. This is a sad day.
I could write a ton about Weather Report. They were, well, the shit. They brought us some of the best musicians in an incredibly easy to digest format. Wow. I never even thought of any of those guys as old, y' know?
Anyway -- this is very sad news.
My roommate in college introduced me to Weather Report in 1981 with the Black Market album. He called it "Thinking Music". The rest was all downhill from there as I became a huge Weather Report fan as well as a Joe Zawinul fan. I saw Joe and the Zawinul syndicate at the Village Vangard sometime in the late 80s. I was spellbound and I still have a special place in my heart and mind for Joe Zawinul and Wayne Shorter and their music. I have twin six year girls that are learning to play guitar. When the time is appropriate I will tell them:
"Now that you are becoming a musician, I want you to listen to Joe Zawinul and Weather Report. If you can appreciate and understand this music you have begun the process of becoming a true musician"
Rest in Peace Joe and thank you for your contribution to music and to me. You will be missed but definitely never forgotten.
Have been a big fan of Weather Report for years, Especially Joe and Jaco. Now they're jamming again, boy would I like to hear that.
AW, FUCK!!! Just tuned in to C&L and saw this post. This sucks. This just fucking sucks!
Weather Report was awesome (some buddies of mine turned me on to them ages ago, and I was always grateful that they did). Damn!
Man, this is too bad. We played Birdland in my high school jazz band, and always closed our sets with it. Definitely one of my all-time jazz favorites (though I was not to fond of some of the other Weather Report stuff; I prefer acoustic to synth jazz almost universially, but this one was definitely an exception).
To all of Joe's fans I would reccomend his 1968 album (his first I beleive) entitled The Rise & Fall of the Third stream. His take on the work of Gunther Schuller and the MJQ. Sporadically availabe on foreign cds. On the Vortex label of LPs, also the label of Keith Jarrett's first LP.
Don't forget that Joe was also the bassist on Ian (Mott the Hoople) Hunter's 2nd solo album, All American Alien Boy and Mr Zawinul added to this album a dimension that would otherwise not have been there. He also toured as part of Hunter's band for this album, 'way back in 1975
It's sad to see the recent passing of so many jazz greats like Jackie McLean, Max Roach, Elvin Jones and now Joe Zawinul. Upon hearing of Clifford Brown's death Dizzy Gillespie said "for his artistry, their can be no replacement". That sentiment applies to all of these musicians even more these days because there is such a lack of true innovation in music at present. As a musician, my belief is that it is our duty to step up to the challenge when these greats leave us. That's the charge that they've given us.
Sorry to hear about Joe. I saw him in concert twice; once with the Mysterious Traveler band and once with the Black Market/Heavy Weather band. I prefer the earlier Weather Report stuff. Live in Tokyo is my favorite. I kind of lost track of him later on, but I'm sure he did some nice things.
I frequently and flagrantly steal Joe's ideas. For evidence, click here.
I frequently and flagrantly steal ideas from Joe. Click here for proof.
I tried to get this posted on Hoffmania but here it is on C&L. Go into youtube and watch the "Black Market vid. I was buying these albums in 69 and couldn't wait for the next one. If you get a chance, listen to as much of this stuff as you can including "I sing th4 body electric" and the cut "unknown soldier". It was their statement on war and it's powerful.
Don't forget how soulful that Austrian was. "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" was a tune that reached out and grabbed you whenever it came over the air and onto your radio. He will be missed.
Oh no.
I just found out.
Say it aint so Joe.
BTW Greg?I'm sure you are a fine musician and all but really.
A plug?How tacky.
I well remember the anticipation of a new Weather Report release...wow!
I grew up in the back blocks of Western Australia, my only mode of musical contact back then was via my DownBeat magazine subscription.
Place the order with the record store and wait...and wait.
"BLack Market" now that was something!
ciao Joe
Big E @ 19:
I moved from the early Santana Band to all the groups you mentioned above, I loved that period.
I loved the energy and musicianship Joe & Weather Report had, a great band, a great musician.
How very sad, what a loss! I have been listening to Zawinul for decades, ever since the very first Weather Report. I had the great privilege of meeting him along with Wayne Shorter and Alfonso Johnson in Stockholm in the mid seventies. I am in shock... And thanks for posting the video of Birdland with Pastorius, great performance.
The lives of those who have come before us and the life they lived.
Here is one of Joes last interviews with NPR in April of this year. Listen and understand. The third reich murdered Jews and Gypsys. Just because.
Click the listen tag.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9495945
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