Joe Zawinul - My People

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.  - by Richard S. Ginell, AMG

Artist: Joe Zawinul
Album: My People
Year: 1992-1996
Label: Escapade Music (1996)
Total time: 52:40

Tracks:
1.  Introduction To A Mighty Theme (Joe Zawinul) 1:53
2.  Waraya (Salif Keita) 6:03
3.  Bimoya (Salif Keita/Joe Zawinul) 6:36
4.  You Want Some tea Grandpa? (Arto Tuncboyaciyan)  3:20
5.  Slivovitz Trail (Joe Zawinul) 4:12
6.  Ochy-Bala (Traditional/arr. Bolot) 2:29
7.  Orient Express (Joe Zawinul) 7:53
8.  Eradapfee Blues(Potato Blues) (Joe Zawinul) 4:53
9.  Mi Gente (Joe Zawinul/Rudy Regalado) 6:13
10.  In An Island Way (Joe Zawinul/Robert Thomas Jr.) 4:48
11.  Many Churches (Joe Zawinul) 4:16

Personnel:
Joe Zawinul (Keyboards and Vocals)
Paco Sery (Drums and Percussion, Kalimba) - 2,3,5
Matthew Garrison (Bass) - 2,3,5,8
Gary Poulson (Guitar) - 2,3,6,9
Arto Tuncboyaciyan (Percussion and Vocals) - 2,4,5,7,10,11
Alex Acuna (Percussion) - 9
Bobby Malach (Tenor Saxophone) - 2,3,8-10
Mike Mossman (Trumpet and Trombone, Piccolo Trumpet) - 2,3,8-10
Salif Keita (Vocals) - 3
Djene Doumbouya (Backing Vocals) - 3
Assitan Dembele (Backing Vocals) - 3
Cheik Tidiane Seck (Keyboards) - 3
Osmane Kouyake (Guitar) - 3
Souleymane Doumbia (Percussion) - 3
Trilok Gurtu (Percussion) - 3,7,8
Amit Chatterjee (Guitar) - 5,7,9,11
Bolot (Throat Vocals and Tapshur) - 6
Richard Bona (Vocals and Bass Guitar) - 7,10
Burhan Öcal (Vocals) - 7
Broadhlan (Backing Vocals) - 8
Thania Sanchez (Vocals) - 9
Rudy Regalado (Percussion) - 9
Michito Sanchez (Percussion) - 9
Kevin Richard (Percussion) - 9
Beto Sabala (Backing Vocals) - 9
Kenny O'Braian (Backing Vocals) - 9
Lucho Avellaneda (Backing Vocals) - 9
Tal Bergman (Drums) - 11