CONCERT December 5, 2011, 7:00 - 8:30 pm (Doors open at 6:30 pm) Tribute to Joe Zawinul Tickets: $15 (cash or check) at the door only! Albuquerque Center for Spiritual Living 505.881.4311 Joe Zawinul Pianist Joe Zawinul was one of the most innovative and creative jazz musicians, although no one would have guessed that from his early life. Zawinul was born in 1932 in Austria, and as a child he played the accordion for his family, later studying classical piano, violin and clarinet at the Vienna Conservatory. Continuing his studies even as WWII raged around him, he seemed headed for a promising career in classical music, but after encountering the sound of jazz, he began to turn in a new direction. The presence of Allied soldiers in Vienna after the war exposed Zawinul to even more American music and created a new audience for his jazz playing. By 1959 he decided that he needed to move to America to continue his jazz studies. He joined Cannonball Adderley's famous band in 1961 and stayed with him for 9 years, composing hits including "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" and "Country Preacher". Zawinul went on to record several albums with Miles Davis including "Bitches Brew" and "In a Silent Way". In 1970 he formed Weather Report with Wayne Shorter, a band that became one of the most popular and influential jazz fusion bands of all time. After the breakup of Weather Report in 1985, Zawinul focused on his own music, often combining jazz with music from around the world and even composing a classical symphony. Throughout his career Zawinul experimented with electronic instruments and synthesizers, and was always a leader in taking advantage of new music technology. Even after being diagnosed with terminal cancer, Zawinul continued to tour and perform until his death in 2007.