Joe Zawinul - Brown Street

Recorded in Vienna, the city of Joe Zawinul's birth, this 2005 concert adapts many of his most celebrated compositions for the expanded presence of the WDR Big Band. After the triumphant opening of the propulsive eleven-minute title track, the gentle "In a Silent Way" revisits the evocative memories of Zawinul's childhood that inspired him to write the piece over forty years ago. While this hour and a half of music draws from Zawinul's past, it is never dependent upon nostalgia. Rather, the bold new settings show how vibrant the writing remains. Zawinul's core quartet (with percussionist Alex Acuna, bassist Victor Bailey, and drummer Nathaniel Townsley) can be as ferocious and supple as any of Weather Report's line-ups. Everything from the atmospheric quietude of a piece like "A Remark You Made" to the world funk of "Black Market" is given its full due by this sprawling yet controlled 19-piece ensemble. --David Greenberger Amazon.com

Slightly disappointed

After hearing clips, and even downloading "A Remark You Made," I had been coveting this disc for some time. I loved Joe Zawinul's harmonic sense, brilliant writing, and singular improv. For me, however, this is one of those 2-disc releases that might have been better off as a single. The second of the two holds my interest MUCH more, perhaps because of the song selection. Joe's arrangements (I assume) do leave me with renewed hope for the big band format - nothing on here sounds stale, like some other big band material can, and ALL of the players are wonderful, particularly Alex Acuna & Victor Bailey. June 26, 2008

Thanks Joe!

This is a must for any Weather Report or Joe Zawinul fan. Nice live album. This was Joe's last recording. February 26, 2008

Joe Zawinul is the Best

This is a fitting tribute to the joyous musical mind of Joe Zawinul. His spirit and writing skills, as well as his mastery of the synthesizer, place him at the top of the jazz world, at least to this reviewer. He understands something about the joy and positive energy inherent in music, and he unlocks it in this CD...his songs take to a big band arrangement really well, especially a tune such as "Night Passage." I heard Zawinul perform at Jazz Alley in Seattle a few years ago, it was the best music I ever heard in this respected jazz club. He got the BEST synth sounds I've ever heard...a complete master. This CD is excellent and flat-out exciting. January 24, 2008

geat joe

What an experience! the listening of this CD brings you all the power of Joe Zawinul's music. Too bad he passed away. He was still able,in his seventies, to wrap you with his sound and transport you a thousand miles away in exstasy. December 7, 2007

Smoking!

For a Weather Report fan who has always found their music to be a perfect blend of jazz past, now and future, I found "Brown Street" to be wonderful example of the staying power of music written by Josef Zawinul and Wayne Shorter. I would have never thought that arranging the music of Weather Report for a big band format would make the music sound so fresh, contemporary and vibrant! A must have recording for fans of Weather Report and the late Josef Zawinul. November 25, 2007

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