Josef Erich Zawinul (born July 7, 1932 in Vienna, Austria) is a jazz keyboardist and composer. He is one of the front runners in the development of jazz fusion along with Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, John McLaughlin and Miles Davis. Best known as the founder of the band Weather Report, with Wayne Shorter, he currently heads the ensemble called the Zawinul Syndicate.

Zawinul, along with Corea and Hancock, was one of the first to integrate electric pianos and early synthesizers like the ARP 2600 in 73's Sweetnighter. Unlike Hancock, he didn't care much for the Minimoog though. He was one of the first to use a Fender-Rhodes with a Phasing effect too and a Wah-Wah pedal. He was a perfectionist and as a result achieved a very contemporary and modern sound. He is still a prominent artist and composer in the jazz community.

During a nine-year stint on keyboard with the Cannonball Adderley Quintet, Zawinul wrote the hit "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy." He also composed "Walk Tall" and "Country Preacher," the latter a tribute to U.S. Civil Rights Movement leader Rev. Jesse Jackson. In this title cut to the quintet's popular 1969 album release, Austrian-born Zawinul demonstrated a sophisticated and intimate understanding of the African/African-American concept of cool, of motion and interval. When "Country Preacher" debuted at a live recording session in Chicago at Jackson's Operation Breadbasket, it elicited enthusiastic cheers of immediate recognition from the mostly African-American audience.

More on [ Joe Zawinul ]

NPR Topics: Jazz

Stanley Clarke: A Lyrical Bass Player
Fri, 02 Nov 2007 10:43:00 -0500
When he was only 25, the word "legend" was already being used to describe Stanley Clarke. Now, he's a king of the acoustic and electric jazz worlds, having won every major award available to a bass player. Hear an interview with the jazz/fusion innovator.
Sun Ra: 'Cosmic Swing'
Wed, 31 Oct 2007 06:00:00 -0500
Whenever he took the stage, audiences were guaranteed a musical spectacle. Half mystic, half visionary, the pianist and bandleader charted a relentlessly adventurous course through the jazz tradition.
Leftover Candy: Top 5 Jazz Halloween Songs
Tue, 30 Oct 2007 14:03:00 -0500
From the lighthearted and fancy to the haunting and grotesque, NPR station WDUQ highlights some spooky Halloween music you can listen to all year long. Hear jazz vocalists conjure different ghosts out of classic tunes, while horn players coax the demons out of their instruments.
Terence Blanchard: Musical Musings on 'God's Will'
Thu, 25 Oct 2007 11:17:00 -0500
The latest CD from New Orleans trumpeter and composer Terence Blanchard is A Tale of God's Will, whose subtitle is "A Requiem for Katrina." Parts of the recording were heard in Spike Lee's HBO documentary When the Levees Broke.
Red Norvo: 'Mr. Swing'
Wed, 24 Oct 2007 06:12:00 -0500
He was a sideman with the early stars of jazz, led one of the most admired bands on the swing era, and catalyzed the careers of musicians like Charles Mingus. All the while, Red Norvo was bringing the mallet instruments to jazz.
Buddy Collette: 'Man of Many Parts'
Wed, 17 Oct 2007 06:00:00 -0500
Reedman Buddy Collette has spent most of his music career on the West Coast, out of the national spotlight. But it would be a mistake to overlook his distinguished career as a jazz educator, activist, composer and, of course, phenomenal multi-instrumentalist.

Subscribe to Jazz RSS feed