Seminal
jazz group Weather Report rises again with the Weather Report Legacy Project
and crowdfunding initiative. The new project, launching December 9, 2013, will
support the creation of a documentary, "Calm Before the Storm." The film documents the group from its
beginnings in 1970, through their 16 year and 17 album career, anchored by
legendary founders and jazz legends Joe Zawinul and Wayne Shorter.
The
Weather Report Legacy Project was created by Tony Zawinul, son of the late Joe
Zawinul and head of the Zawinul Estate, as well as Weather Report co-founder
Wayne Shorter. Tony will direct the upcoming documentary and brings unequaled
access to the life and mind of his father Joe. Others involved in the project
include former Weather Report members Peter Erskine, Alphonso Johnson, and
Robert Thomas Jr. to name just a few.
Tony
Zawinul noted, "We've seen phenomenal fan support from every corner of the
world. Weather Report had millions of fans over the years and it's a joy to see
their reactions to this landmark initiative." Shorter added, "Taking myself out of it,
this is a chance to find out something that happened because of a group of
people who have gone down a trail less tread upon in the music world. I give
the project a thumbs-up."
Since
March 2013, nearly 100,000 new fans have joined the movement on Facebook and
over 1000 fans have pre-committed to supporting as well as providing personal
endorsements for the crowdfunding campaign. Endorsements can be found on the
Legacy Project website at WeatherReportMusic.com. Peter Erskine added,
"Weather Report is the closest thing that jazz had to the Beatles. The
fans are still worldwide and hungry for the band's legacy."
The
crowdfunding project will launch on http://www.indiegogo.com/at/weatherreport
where fans can pledge for many rare incentives including a "Heavy
Weather" Platinum Record, Jaco Pastorius tour memorabilia, VIP tickets to
the 2014 Weather Report Legacy Tour, unreleased recordings from Joe Zawinul's
personal collection of tapes, dinner with Wayne Shorter and Peter Erskine, and
even a chance to be interviewed for the documentary.
For more
information or interviews with the Legacy Project team, contact "Calm Before
the Storm" producer Danny Kastner at dannyk@weatherreportmusic.com or
310-692-4960.
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