Kurt Elling, today's finest male jazz vocalist, reinterprets Weather Report, with an emphasis on Wayne Shorter's compositions, in this special collaborative project with California legends Yellowjackets. Weather Report were the quintessential modern jazz band of the '70s and '80s - which is why we're thrilled to experience this exclusive project at the 50th edition of the Bratislava Jazz Days Slovenská sporiteľňa.
Weather Report was an American jazz-fusion group formed in 1970 by the brilliant Austrian keyboardist Joe Zawinul, American saxophonist Wayne Shorter and Czech bassist Miroslav Vitouš.
The main composer and creative director of the group was Viennese Joe Zawinul, who, after the initial more experimental years, steered the group towards a edgier sound that included elements of R&B, funk, rock, and world-music.
Weather Report are generally considered the most important of the defining groups of the jazz fusion and modern jazz genres.
Kurt Elling is a two-time Grammy Award winner known for his distinctive voice and inventive individual work. With his vocal brilliance and range, Elling has worked with jazz stars such as Brad Mehldau, George Freeman, Buddy Guy, Lee Ritenour, Bob Mintzer, Branford Marsalis, John Pizzarelli, Til Brönner and Charlie Hunter throughout his career.
He has 16 Grammy Award nominations, has been named Vocalist of the Year 18 times in the critics' poll of the prestigious jazz magazine Downbeat, and 15 times in the readers' poll. Kurt Elling has released 17 solo albums, several of them on the iconic Blue Note label, and has appeared as a guest on dozens of recordings by leading jazz musicians.
The New York Times has rightly called Kurt Elling "the outstanding male jazz vocalist of our time"; the Washington Post declared that "no vocalist in jazz since the 1990s has been as adventurous, dynamic and engaging as Kurt Elling."
The Yellowjackets formed as Robben Ford's backing band in 1977, debuting under their own name in 1981. The Yellowjackets' sound at the time was focused on a sound created by blending R'n'B and jazz, their fusion reminiscent of Joe Zawinul's most melodic moments.
A stronger leaning towards jazz was brought to the band by clarinetist Bob Mintzer, who joined The Yellowjackets in 1991. He had previously played with Jaco Pastorious, the Brecker Brothers, Tito Puente and Buddy Rich. Mike Stern has also appeared on one album with the group.
The Yellowjackets have two Grammy Awards, 17 nominations, and have released 22 albums.
They played our festival in 2018, following the release of their most recent album to date, Raising Our Voice. At that time, they were joined by the famous Brazilian singer Luciana Souza. This time it will be even more famous singer Kurt Elling, who played at our festival in 2000. Yellowjackets will be coming with the current lineup of Russell Ferrante (keyboards), Bob Mintzer (woodwinds), Dane Alderson (bass) and William Kennedy (drums)