Singleversity #27

Audiversity’s weekly column, slightly modified, on random music in a predetermined number of words between 1 & 150. This week's randomly generated number: 111.

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Sadly, jazz keyboardist Joe Zawinul passed away earlier this week from a rare skin disease. Though the Austrian musician wasn’t the only driving force in the movement, he was certainly an indispensable component in the developing of jazz-fusion by pioneering the use of electric piano and synthesizers in jazz music. Zawinul spent nine years playing for Cannonball Adderly in the 60s and then teamed with Miles Davis for such groundbreaking albums as In a Silent Way, Bitches Brew and Big Fun before starting Weather Report with Wayne Shorter. Though it hasn’t aged exceptionally well, Weather Report’s "Birdland" is still one of the most widely recognizable jazz songs of the 70s. R.I.P.

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Our recent Githead interview with Colin Newman inspired me to return to Wire’s early work after leaving it for a few months. It amuses me that Jordan, though no longer writing for us, always insisted on Pink Flag while Michael stays loyal to Chairs Missing. I myself am a 154 devotee, its abstract cover and sonically advanced songs (as on "Single K.O." here) never growing too tired for my tastes. If you really believe that 154 is the weak link in Wire’s holy triumvirate, I urge you to go back and listen again. I guarantee you’ll find something new every time, which is part of the magic inherent in its design.