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75 is a live album by Austrian jazz musician Joe Zawinul and his band the Zawinul Syndicate. It was recorded in 2007 at two performances in Switzerland and Hungary, among bandleader Joe Zawinul’s final performances. The album was produced by Joachim Becker and originally released in 2008 by JVC Compact Discs, with the Zawinul Estate and Becker serving as executive producers. It was later released by BHM Productions and Heads Up International, the BHM release with the alternate title 75th. It peaked at number eighteen on Billboard’s Top Jazz Albums chart and won the 2010 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album.

Critical Reception

Joe Zawinul’s final edition of his Zawinul Syndicate band was a terrific ensemble that was perfect for any jazz festival. The multi-ethnic content, driving funky pulse, and Zawinul’s colorful keyboard foundation kept listeners on their toes and rapt with attention. Using percussion and guitar with no other solo instruments, Zawinul was fully able to carry the proceedings with support from very talented performers who always complemented the music, but never got in the way, or dared to. This live double-CD set perfectly exemplifies Zawinul’s personalized direction before he suddenly passed away, and exudes all of the energy the group produced in concert (Michael G. Nastos/AllMusic).

A gift. That’s perhaps the most effective description of the late Josef (Joe) Zawinul and what he has given to the world of music. So it follows that on his 75th and final birthday, one of the pioneers of jazz fusion performed the music that would become the two-disc 75, his final recording. … That he delivered such an exceptional performance is a testament to his talent and dedication in sharing his gift (Woodrow Wilkins/AllAboutJazz).

Zawinul played his heart out every night on his final tour. You can hear that sense of commitment and incredible soul, the uncanny melodic and harmonic invention, the inner drive and boundless spirit of the man on every one of these live tracks. It’s a fitting finale for one of the all-time greats (Bill Milkowski/ JazzTimes).

Track listing:
All tracks are written by Joe Zawinul, except where noted.

Disc One
1. “Introduction to Orient Express” My People 3:10
2. “Orient Express” My People 10:07
3. “Madagascar” Night Passage 10:00
4. “Scarlet Woman”
Alphonso JohnsonWayne ShorterZawinul
Mysterious Traveller 6:55
5. “Zansa II”
Paco SeryZawinul
World Tour 6:39
6. “Cafe Andalusia” Faces & Places 8:52

Disc Two
1. “Fast City” / “Two Lines” Night Passage / Procession 12:37
2. “Clario” Alegre Corrêa 5:45
3. “Badia” / “Boogie Woogie Waltz” Tale Spinnin’ / Sweetnighter 10:16
4. “Happy Birthday”
Mildred J. HillPatty Hill
1:39
5. “In a Silent Way” In a Silent Way 14:20
6. “Hymn” Traditional 3:30
Total length: 1:33:50

Personnel:

Joe Zawinul – keyboards, vocoder
Alegre Corrêa – guitar, berimbau, vocals
Linley Marthe – bass
Paco Sery – drums, kalimba, vocals
Abdelaziz Sahmaoui – percussion, vocals
Jorge Bezerra – percussion, vocals
Sabine Kabongo – percussion, vocals
Wayne Shorter – soprano saxophone on “In a Silent Way”

________________

Released: 24 September 2008
Recorded: 7 July 2007 and
2 August 2007
Venue: Lugano, Switzerland (July),
Veszprém, Hungary (August)
Length: 1:33:50
Label: BHM, JVC
Producer: Joachim Becker