Kurt Elling and Peter Erskine at the Michigan Theater

Kurt Elling Celebrates Weather Report featuring Peter Erskine
Michigan Theater
49th Performance of the 146th UMS Season
Ann Arbor, Michigan
April 11, 2025

With two Grammy Awards to his name and a long list of press accolades—including holding the top spot in the DownBeat Critics and Readers Polls for over a decade—vocalist Kurt Elling could easily rest on his laurels. But instead, he continues to push creative boundaries, embarking on projects that many would consider improbable for a vocalist. Yet Elling's remarkable range, intonation, and boundless creativity allow him to pull off almost anything he sets his mind to.

Whether crafting original lyrics in the vocalese tradition or deploying his signature brand of scat singing, Elling's latest endeavor sees him reimagining the classic repertoire of the fusion supergroup Weather Report. As he explained during a nearly sold-out performance at the Michigan Theater, what makes this project especially meaningful is his personal connection to the band's founding members, Wayne Shorter and Joe Zawinul. At a party one evening with his wife, Elling mustered the courage to introduce himself to Zawinul. To his surprise and delight, Zawinul embraced him with a bear hug and said, "You write good shit, man."

The concert opened in grand fashion with Wayne Shorter's "Elegant People," as Elling navigated the melody's wide range with ease. He even picked up a tambourine, flashing a wide grin as guitarist Mike Moreno delivered an intricate, captivating solo. Elling's perfect pitch was on full display in his a cappella vocalese interpretation of Jaco Pastorius' "Continuum," showcasing not only his range but also his masterful microphone technique.

Much of the setlist drew from Weather Report's mid-to late-period catalog. Essiet Essiet laid down an engaging intro to "Palladium" on electric bass before Peter Erskine, a former Weather Report drummer, locked in a funky groove with effortless authority. Throughout the show, Erskine's intimate knowledge of the material helped bring an added layer of textures that made his participation seem absolutely essential.

On both piano and electric keys, Joey Calderazzo dazzled with inventive solos—so surprising at times that even Elling appeared momentarily taken aback. The interplay between Moreno and Calderazzo was another standout; anyone familiar with ensemble dynamics knows how rare and difficult it is for two chording instruments to coexist with such synergy. The seventy-five-minute performance concluded with "A Remark You Made," one of Joe Zawinul's most poignant ballads—a fitting, poetic farewell to an evening rich with emotional nuance. Elling's magnetic stage presence, compelling storytelling, and exceptional artistry elevated the night into something truly memorable.