The Zawinul Syndicate

Jazz Fusion Ensemble Led by Keyboardist Joe Zawinul

The Zawinul Syndicate was a jazz fusion band formed by Austrian keyboardist and composer Joe Zawinul after the disbandment of Weather Report, a highly influential jazz fusion group he co-led with saxophonist Wayne Shorter. The Zawinul Syndicate blended jazz with world music elements, showcasing Zawinul's pioneering use of electronic keyboards and synthesizers. Joe Zawinul, born on July 7, 1932, in Vienna, Austria, was classically trained at the Vienna Conservatory before moving into the realm of jazz. His career took off when he played with trumpeter Maynard Ferguson and then with saxophonist Cannonball Adderley, for whom he composed the hit "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy."