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7 July 1932 - 11 September 2007

Legendry pianist and jazz-fusion pioneer Joe Zawinul died at Vienna's Wilhelmina Clinic after suffering from a rare form of skin cancer.

Josef Erich Zawinul began playing the accordion at age six. He studied classical piano and composition in his native Austria at the Vienna Conservatory. Heavily influenced by Erroll Garner and George Shearing, Zawinul’s interest in jazz piano led him to perform with Austrian saxophonist Hans Koller in 1952. He also led his own trio and performed in Germany and France.

In 1958, Zawinul immigrated to the United States after winning a scholarship to the celebrated Berklee College of Music, but he left after just one week after being invited to join Maynard Ferguson’s band. After a brief stay with Slide Hampton, Zawinul became Dinah Washington’s pianist from 1959 to 1961. He also spent one month with trumpeter Harry “Sweets” Edison before sharing his talent with the Cannonball Adderley Quintet.

Zawinul’s nine-year stint with Adderley proved both timely and fruitful. Zawinul penned the acclaimed hit “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy” He also composed “Walk Tall” and the much-celebrated tribute to Re. Jesse Jackson “Country Preacher”. By now he had evolved from a hard bop pianist, to a soul-jazz performer. His exploration and evolution would not stop here.

In the late 60’s, Zawinul began to record with Miles Davis. This relationship would also prove fruitful with Zawinul’s compositions contributing heavily to many of Davis’ acclaimed jazz-fusion work such as “In a Silent Way” and the twenty-minute masterpiece “Pharaoh’s Dance”.

In 1970, Zawinul formed Weather Report with Wayne Shorter and Czech bassist Miroslav Vitous. This group was a platform for Zawinul to evolve further, and explore his growing interest in the various eclectic beats and unique sounds from Africa and the Middle East. He eventually swapped his electric piano for a series of more sophisticated synthesizers. Weather Report would progress to become a group that would break down many barriers in the world of jazz, rock and fusion. Zawinul’s “Birdland” is still one of the most recognisable compositions in the world of music today.

In 1985, Zawinul and shorter parted. Zawinul would continue touring with his entourage of electronic keyboards and rhythm machines. The following year he formed the revised group ‘Weather Update’. This group would later be renamed the Zawinul Syndicate.

Zawinul collaborated with Viennese classical pianist Friedrich Gulda between 1987 and 1994. The result of this union would be the release of the classically based symphony “Stories of the Danube” (1993) and Faces & Places (1994). Zawinul continued to release critically acclaimed albums including “Midnight Jam” (2005) and “Brown Street” (2007).

Zawinul was scheduled to perform with the BBC Big Band at the Barbican on November 25, 2007. This would have been the grand finale for this year’s London Jazz Festival.

Robin Francis
© Michael Valentine Studio Ltd.