The Syndicate has a couple of performances scheduled for next month in France and Switzerland. In July, they will celebrate Joe’s birthday on the seventh at Porgy & Bess in Vienna with special guest, accordionist Klaus Paier. They are also booked at the North Sea Jazz Festival. I’ve updated the Tour Dates page. It looks like the lineup has changed a bit, with only Paco Séry and Allegre Correa remaining from the the Zawinul Syndicate. The full lineup is Emile Parisien (saxophone), Correa (guitar), Thierry Eliez (keyboard), Munir Hossn (bass), Séry (drums), and Arnold Moueza (percussion).

Speaking of Paco Séry, I failed to note earlier the release of his album The Real Life. The label describes it as a mix of “Africa, Funk, Jazz, Hip hop, R&B,” and I’d say that’s about right. It’s kind of like seriously grooving world music. (How could it not groove with Paco behind the drum kit?) If you liked his first album, Voyages, you’ll like this one, too.

As I write on my Weather Report site, Peter Erskine has published a great new ebook that’s part autobiography, part Weather Report memoir. A must read for Zawinul fans, as well as anyone interested in Peter’s life story, Weather Report, Wayne Shorter, Jaco Pastorious, or the many musicians Peter has worked with throughout his career. I’ve written a brief review over at the annotated discography.

radio.string.quartet.vienna has released their new album, Posting Joe, Celebrating the Music of Weather Report-Live. It’s a collection of Zawinul/Weather Report tunes, uniquely interpreted by r.s.q.v. I’ve posted more information at my Weather Report site.