Bebop Spoken There

Emma Rawicz: "In a couple of years I've gone from being a normal university student to suddenly being on international stages." DownBeat January 2026.

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

18219 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 73 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 24), 73

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Fri 30: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 30: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 30: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 30: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Fri 30: Pete Roth Trio @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). Feat. Bill Bruford.
Fri 30: Jive Aces @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm.
Fri 30: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Northern Edge Coffee, Silver St., Berwick. 7:00pm.
Fri 30: Dan Coulthurst Quintet @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 7:30pm (7:00pm doors). £10.00 + £1.00. bf (www.wegottickets.com). Coulthurst (trumpet); Joel Stedman (bass clarinet, flute); Nico Widdowson (piano); Fergus Quill (double bass); Theo Goss (drums).

Sat 31: Darling Dollies @ St George’s Church, Jesmond, Newcastle. 3:00pm. £10.00. Vocal trio.
Sat 31: Brass Fiesta @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 10:30pm. Free.

FEBRUARY 2026

Sun 01: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £10.00.
Sun 01: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free. Quintet + guest Bill Watson (trumpet, flugelhorn).
Sun 01: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 01: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 01: Annie & the Caldwells @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £25.00. adv. Gospel/soul.
Sun 01: Jive Aces @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm.
Sun 01: Olly Styles Experience + Jenny Baker @ the Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 02: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 02: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.

Tue 03: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.
Tue 03: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 04: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 04: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 04: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 05: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject:Times of the Day & Trios.
Thu 05: Jeremy McMurray’s Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Special guest Emma Wilson.
Thu 05: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

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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