The band was originillay a spin-off from the group of musicians centered around Miles Davis in the late sixties and early seventies. The stable core of the group was the duo of pianist Joe Zawinul and saxophonist Wayne Shorter, while the other musicians were rotated with almost every album. Initially, the band's music featured extended improvisation, similar to Davis' "Bitches Brew"-period work, and instumentation included both a traditional trap set drummer and a second percussionist (first Airto Moriera, later Dom Um Romao). Both Zawinul and original bassist Miroslav Vitous experimented with rock guitarists' electronic effects, Zawinul on electric piano and organ, Vitous on upright bass, often bowed, as a second horn-like voice.
Later recordings were more melody-oriented, and had greater mass-market appeal. Of those, most notably, the lineup introduced virtuoso bassist Jaco Pastorius in 1976.
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