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Joe Zawinul
My People
Release Date: 1992 zz zz-1996 zz zz
Running Time: 52:33
Label: Escapade Music
Rating:

If one must indulge in categories, My People, featuring the Zawinul Syndicate and a United Nations coterie of guests, probably belongs on the vast world music shelf, the links to so-called jazz now so tenuous as to be nearly, but not quite, invisible. On the percolating "Slivovitz Trail," "Orient Express," "Many Churches," and the Caribbean-tinged cleverly titled "In an Island Way," the music does suggest earlier versions of the Syndicate, and Joe Zawinul's nostalgic evocations of Wayne Shorter on the Korg Pepe reach back even further. Otherwise, Zawinul is looking entirely toward ethnic cultures for musical sustenance. The musical structures are linear, the rhythms full of intricacies welded to Zawinul's love affair with the groove, the synthesizer textures usually sparer than ever. There are vocals in several languages by Zawinul's longtime colleague Salif Keita (for whom Zawinul produced a great album in 1991), Syndicate percussionist Arto Tuncboyaciyan, a throat vocal specialist from South Siberia named Bolot, Thania Sanchez, Zawinul himself, and several others. When translated, the lyrics speak of joy and unity among the cultures, and there isn't any doubt that Zawinul's bubbling music feeds the message of uplift. Hear it; you purists may be jiggling along in spite of yourselves. Richard S. Ginell, All Music Guide

Tracks:

	Title	Composer	Time
1	Introduction to a Mighty Theme	Zawinul	1:52
2	Waraya	Keita	6:03
3	Bimoya	Keita, Zawinul	6:36
4	You Want Some Tea, Grandpa?	Tuncboyaciyan	3:20
5	Slivovitz Trail	Zawinul	4:12
6	Ochy-Bala/Pazyryk [Live]	Balot, Bolot, Rock Asia, Traditional	2:29
7	Orient Express	Zawinul	7:53
8	Erdäpfee Blues (Potato Blues)	Zawinul	4:53
9	Mi Gente	Zawinul, Regalado, Sanchez	6:13
10	In an Island Way	Zawinul, Thomas	4:48
11	Many Churches	Zawinul	4:15