Birdland (R.I.P.)

We were about 16, 17 years old, testing our musical chops with overly complicated fusion arrangements in the basement rehearsal room of our friend Wolfgang. His father was a big shot TV and commercial composer from Vienna and one of his best friends was Joe Zawinul, legendary Viennese sideman of Cannonball and Miles. When Zawinul was in town he would drop in for coffee and cake. Once he came down to the basement, highly amused that those skinny Germans would get all excited about meeting the composer of 'Birdland', which we had played a lot on the open air circuit around Munich. He jammed for a while, which was moist likely the most impressive musical experience for any of us.

Years later I ran into him at the Broadway Diner in Santa Monica. He didn't remember me, but he sure remembered the session with the German fusion fan teens. Which still amused him. This morning he died in Vienna.

Zawinul and Weather Report playing Birdland

Zawinul and the Cannonball Adderley Sextet

Zawinul and Miles Davis