“Birdland” is a jazz instrumental composition by keyboardist Joe Zawinul that debuted on the seventh album of Zawinul’s group Weather Report, “Heavy Weather”, in 1977. A jazz-fusion piece, it achieved unusual commercial success and became a jazz standard, reaching number 1 on the Billboard Jazz chart as well as charting high on the Hot 100 and R&B charts, as well. It has entered the repertoire of many groups and bands over the years, including Buddy Rich, Maynard Ferguson’s big band, and The …