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August 29, 2008 1:25:49 PM CDT

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Jazz Giant Zawinul Dead at 75

Posted Sep 11, 07 7:28 PM CDT in Arts & Living,  US 

(Newser) – Joe Zawinul, the keyboardist who plugged America into "Electric Jazz" in the 1970s, has died at age 75. Best known for playing jazz-rock fusion with Miles Davis and starting up Weather Report with Wayne Shorter, Zawinul defended his electric sound against jazz purists. "There is no difference between a Stradivarius or a beautiful synthesizer sound," he once said.

Born in Vienna in 1932, Zawinul trained in classical piano and emigrated to the US in the 1950s, the AP reports. He soon lit up gigs with Maynard Ferguson, Dinah Washington, and Cannonball Adderly. The giant credited his chops to playing on Vienna’s jazz scene: "One thing about Viennese musicians, they can really groove, more than even the German bands can," he once told Downbeat.

Source Associated Press

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Austrian born composer and Jazz musician Joe Zawinul listens during a press conference in Vienna, on Monday, Oct. 2, 2006. Jazz legend Zawinul, who soared to fame in the 1950s as one of the world's greatest...   (Associated Press)
Austrian born composer and Jazz musician Joe Zawinul poses for photographers in front of his Jazz bar "Birdland" in Vienna, on Tuesday, May 25, 2004. Jazz legend Zawinul, who soared to fame in the 1950s...   (Associated Press)
Austrian born composer and Jazz musician Joe Zawinul poses for photographers at his Jazz bar "Birdland" in Vienna, on Tuesday, May 25, 2004. Jazz legend Zawinul, who soared to fame in the 1950s as one...   (Associated Press)
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Joe Zawinul intvw - about Arnaud Delafosse   (ArnaudDelafosse (YouTube))
Joe Zawinul,Trilok Gurtu Orient Express Part1   (digimaton (YouTube))

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obituary  • Austria  • musician  • Vienna  • jazz  • Miles Davis  • electric


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