JOE ZAWINUL - Zawinul (1971)

Conceptually, sonically, this is really the first Weather Report album in all but name, confirming that Joe Zawinul was the primary creative engine behind the group from the beginning. It is also the link between WR and Miles Davis' keyboard-laden experiments on In a Silent Way; indeed, the tune "In a Silent Way" is redone in the more complex form in which Zawinul envisioned it, and Miles even contributes a brief, generous tribute to Zawinul on the liner. Two keyboardists -- Zawinul and the formidable Herbie Hancock -- form the underpinning of this stately, probing album, garnishing their work with the galactic sound effects of the Echoplex and ring modulator. Earl Turbinton provides the Wayne Shorter-like beams of light on the soprano sax, spelled by Wayne himself on "Double Image." The third founder of WR, Miroslav Vitous, checks in on bass, and hard-bopping trumpeter Woody Shaw proves to be perfectly adept at the jazz-rock game. Two short-lived standards of the jazz-rock era, the aforementioned "Double Image" and "Doctor Honoris Causa," are introduced here, yet it is mood pieces like "His Last Journey" and "Arrival in New York" that with the help of tape-speed manipulation, establish the lasting, murky, reflective ambience of this CD.  -  Richard S. Ginell



Tracks
1. Doctor Honoris Causa
2. In A Silent Way
3. His Last Journey
4. Double Image
5. Arrival In New York

JOE ZAWINULelectric piano
HERBIE HANCOCKelectric piano
GEORGE DAVISflute
WOODY SHAWtrumpet
EARL TURBINTONsoprano sax
MIROSLAV VITOUSbass
WALTER BOOKERbass
JOE CHAMBERSdrums
BILLY HARTpercussion
DAVID LEEpercussion
JIMMY OWENStrumpet (on 3)
HUBERT LAWSflute (on 4)
WAYNE SHORTERsoprano sax (on 4)
JACK DeJOHNETTEmelodica (on 3) percussion (on 4)

Music composed by Joe Zawinul
Recorded at Atlantic Recording Studios, New York August 6 & 12, 1971
Atlantic - 7567-81375-2