Bebop Spoken There

Christian McBride: ''I believe we are living in a historically embarrassing moment in American history.'' - Downbeat December 2025

The Things They Say!

This is a good opportunity to say thanks to BSH for their support of the jazz scene in the North East (and beyond) - it's no exaggeration to say that if it wasn't for them many, many fine musicians, bands and projects across a huge cross section of jazz wouldn't be getting reviewed at all, because we're in the "desolate"(!) North. (M & SSBB on F/book 23/12/24)

Postage

18061 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 1025 of them this year alone and, so far, 39 this month (Dec. 14).

From This Moment On ...

DECEMBER 2025

Sat 20: Jazz Attack @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 11:00am. Free.
Sat 20: Alexia Gardner @ FIKA Art Gallery, Morpeth. 6:30pm. Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy. SOLD OUT!
Sat 20: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Sat 20: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 20: Hoodoo Blues @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:15pm (doors). £14.25, £11.55. Dance class, social dancing, live music & Xmas Party. Live music from 9:00pm - Ruth Lambert, Giles Strong, Ian Paterson & John Bradford (jazz and blues).
Sat 20: John Pope Quintet @ Blank Studios, Newcastle. 7:30-8:30pm. £7.70 (inc. bf). Album recording session.

Sun 21: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. ‘Xmas Swingalong’. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 21: Ruth Lambert Trio @ Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00-5:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 21: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band @ o2 City Hall, Newcastle. 6:00pm. £35.80., £33.25., £31.00.
Sun 21: The Globe Xmas Party @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. Live music.
Sun 21: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick. 7:30pm. Free.

Mon 22: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 23: Paul Skerritt @ Chakh Dhoom, Jesmond, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Indian restaurant. Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Wed 24: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 24: Alexia Gardner @ The Townhouse, Bridge St., Morpeth. 1:30-4:30pm. ‘The A Capella Sessions’. Gardner, Paula Gardner, Alexia Hope Gardner Diamany.
Wed 24: Paul Skerritt @ Mambo Wine & Dine, South Shields. 1:30pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Thu 25: Alexia Gardner @ The Townhouse, Bridge St., Morpeth. 1:30-4:00pm. ‘All About the Bass Sessions’. Alexia Gardner, Paula Gardner, Jude Murphy.

Fri 26: ???

Sat 27: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. CANCELLED!
Sat 27: Leeds City Stompers @ Billy Bootleggers, Ouseburn, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free.

Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 28: Paul Skerritt @ 3 Stories, High St. West, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Skerritt w. backing tapes.
Sun 28: The Society Quartet @ Hilton Garden Inn, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Jason Holcomb & co.

Mon 29: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 30: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £8.00., £7.00. adv.

Wed 31: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 31: Lil Miss Mary & the Mr Rights Trio @ Billy Bootlegger’s, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. ‘Early NYE Bash’. Rockabilly, rhythm & blues.
Wed 31: Abbie Finn Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. ‘Midnight in Manhattan’ NYE party. £49.46 (inc. bf) & £29.38 (inc. bf).

Reviewers wanted

Whilst BSH attempts to cover as many gigs, festivals and albums as possible, to make the site even more comprehensive we need more 'boots on the ground' to cover the albums seeking review - a large percentage of which never get heard - report on gigs or just to air your views on anything jazz related. Interested? then please get in touch. Contact details are on the blog. Look forward to hearing from you. Lance

Thursday, October 17, 2019

CD Review: Scott Kinsey - We Speak Luniwaz: The Music of Joe Zawinul

(Review by Russell)

Scott Kinsey is a fully paid up Luniwazian. Pianist, composer, producer, Kinsey continues to promote the music of the late Joe Zawinul (the Zawinul Estate endorses his activities) with concert performances and now a debut album on Whirlwind Recordings. We Speak Luniwaz features musicians who share Kinsey's enthusiasm for his subject, the legendary co-leader of Weather Report.

Ten tracks over a generous sixty six minutes more than do justice to Zawinul (Luniwaz) and his music. Seven of Zawinul's compositions, one written by Weather Report co-founder Wayne Shorter and two originals (one a group composition, one a Kinsey-Steve Tavaglione-Cyril Atef composition) survey the Weather Report years. The quartet, otherwise known as the Scott Kinsey Group, is joined across the album by no fewer than nine guest musicians, some with direct links to Weather Report/Zawinul Syndicate.

Those lucky enough to have heard Weather Report in concert cannot be other than impressed with We Speak Luniwaz. The unparalleled virtuosity is present, the brio, the elan, the Zawinul playfulness, remarkably Kinsey and co have pulled it off. Bassist Hadrien Feraud is nothing short of phenomenal, a worthy successor to Alphonso Johnson, Jaco Pastorius and Victor Bailey. Fast City from 1980's Night Passage is quite spectacular - for J Pastorius read H Feraud!  

In his CD liner notes Kinsey thanks 'The many tremendous musicians who made this recording possible'. Kinsey himself should take a bow - a fine musician, band leader, composer and arranger. Peter Erskine (Weather Report drummer) says of Kinsey: His band plays the daylights out of these tunes. No finer recommendation.              
Russell     

Scott Kinsey (keyboards, piano, vocoder); Katisse Buckingham (tenor & soprano saxophones, flute, rhymes); Hadrien Feraud (electric bass); Gergö Borlai (drums) + Steve Tavaglione (soprano saxophone); Jimmy Haslip (electric bass); Danny Carey (electronic drums); Cyril Atef (percussion, voice); Brad Dutz (percussion); Bobby Thomas Jr. (percussion, wooden flute, voice); Arto Tunçboyaciyan (voice); Yon Atef (voice); Naina Kundu (voice)    

We Speak Luniwaz will be released on October 25 on Michael Janisch's Whirlwind Recordings' label (catalogue no. WR4743). If you happen to be in Studio City, California on Monday 21 October get along to the Baked Potato for the album launch. Admission is a mere $20.     
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