Joe Zawinul

Josef ‘Joe’ Erich Zawinul was one of the most illustrative pioneers of jazz fusion and the creator (or co-creator along with saxophonist extraordinaire Wayne Shorter) of one of the most enduring and great jazz fusion bands, more specifically Weather Report. Before establishing Weather Report, Joe Zawinul had many collaborations with renowned and refined jazz musicians in the United States during the 1960s. After he left his native Austria, Zawinul forged an amazing musical career in the United States, having collaborated with the best jazz musicians of the 1960s. Among them was, naturally, the one and only Miles Davis.

Although initially reluctant on collaborating with him, Zawinul eventually crossed paths with Miles Davis when the time was right. The following great 2007 documentary, part of a series of documentaries on the musicians who had previously collaborated with the legendary Miles Davis and created their own successful either solo careers or amazing bands afterwards, details the musical life of Joe Zawinul under the collaboration with Miles Davis and the influence it had on his music (as well as vice versa, the contributions of Joe Zawinul in the music of Miles Davis). The documentary is titled ‘Sons of Miles’ and revolves around the ‘graduates’ of the ‘Milesian’ (as in the words of journalist Robert Christgau) jazz school.

Therefore, without any further needless ado on my behalf, I hope you will like watching the following great documentary on Joe Zawinul as part of the musical portrait documentary series ‘Sons of Miles’. Enjoy and all the best!