Weather Report's beginnings in the early seventies coincided with analog synthesizers like the ARP 2600 and the Mini-Moog becoming commercially available to musicians. These instruments were integral to the band's sound and spurred the creativity of keyboardist and founding member Joe Zawinul. In the final portion of our interview with Curt Bianchi, we hear about how Zawinul embraced this new technology.
Another question posed to Bianchi considers the the contributions of saxophonist Wayne Shorter. Given his minimalistic approach, it is easy to misunderstand his role in the group.
Finally, Bianchi explains how the decade-and-a-half run of Weather Report came to an end, and why he feels like their music stands the test of time.