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.