Joe Zawinul

Biography

Joe Zawinul was an Austrian keyboardist and composer who was a primary architect of jazz fusion. After writing the soul-jazz hit 'Mercy, Mercy, Mercy' for *Cannonball Adderley*, Zawinul became a key contributor to *Miles Davis*'s early electric experiments on 'In a Silent Way' and 'Bitches Brew'. He then co-founded the legendary fusion band Weather Report with *Wayne Shorter*, where his pioneering use of synthesizers and his gift for blending jazz with world music and R&B created one of the most popular and innovative sounds of the 1970s, exemplified by the iconic track 'Birdland' from their album 'Heavy Weather'.