ESC Records is finally close to releasing Midnight Jam, a live recording of Zawinul’s 70th birthday party concert at the Leverkusener Jazztage in 2002. Due out next month, the double CD includes the WDR Big Band performing Zawinul’s tunes under the direction of Vince Mendoza. Scott Kinsey manned the keyboards, and Peter Erskine, Victor Bailey and Alex Acuna rounded out the rhythm section. The Zawinul Syndicate also performed, and so far as I know the album will include performances by both bands. The long awaited DVD of the event will have to wait a little longer. It’s still in development, but the word I have is that it won’t be released until next year. [As of January 2007, this album has not been released.]