What can you tell us about playing with Weather Report, Joe Zawinul and Jaco Pastorius?
DA: Well, I got this call from Miroslav Vitous, way back when the band first started. I was supposed to be the first percussionist with that band. I went to the rehearsals, spoke with Zawinul, and so forth. They were recording the very first album, called Weather Report. We got into the studio, and somehow or another we parted company. Time goes on, and I had met Jaco Pastorius. He called me up and said they were doing Black Market. I was doing a gig with Blood, Sweat & Tears. He called me up and said, “I’m going with Weather Report. Why don’t you come?” Zawinul and I spoke, and patched everything up. I said, “Let’s go, man. It’s going to be great.” [laughs] An hour later — not even an hour later — I got a call from Miles Davis. I had been in his band in ’70, ’71. He called me to come back. This is like ’75, ’76. Not putting anything down about Weather Report, because they later on went on to be a premier fusion group, but there’s no choice. I had to call back Zawinul and tell him, “
