Widely known as one of the most skilled keyboard players of his generation, Scott Kinsey is also one of the foremost interpreters of Joe Zawinul’s rich musical legacy. As musical director of the Zawinul Legacy Band, Kinsey has delivered electrifying performances in celebration of Zawinul’s ground-breaking work with Weather Report and the Zawinul Syndicate.

On ‘We Speak Luniwaz’, his Whirlwind Recordings debut, Kinsey brings his expertise to bear on re-imaginings of seven scintillating Zawinul compositions, plus one by Wayne Shorter and two originals. Joined by electric bass phenom Hadrien Feraud, saxophone/flute master Katisse Buckingham and Hungarian drummer Gergo Borlai, this accomplished crew generates sparkling energy and percolating grooves on entrancing Zawinul fare like “Black Market” (Black Market, 1976), “Fast City” (Night Passage, 1980) and for the funky “Cucumber Slumber,” (Mysterious Traveler, 1974), Kinsey showcases Buckingham’s skills as rapper with a testimony to Joe in a segment titled “World Citizen.”

Special guests on this dynamic project include former Yellowjackets bassist Jimmy Haslip, former Weather Report percussionist Robert Thomas Jr., former Zawinul Syndicate percussionist Arto Tun boyaciyan and former Zawinul Syndicate drummer Michael Baker. Like Kinsey, they all speak Luniwaz.

A prolific composer and imaginative improviser, Kinsey collaborated with the likes of Kurt Rosenwinkel, Alphonso Johnson, Robben Ford, Dennis Chambers, John McLaughlin, Peter Erskine, Bill Evans, Oz Noy, Tim Lefebvre, Thundercat, Flying Lotus and many others.

The legendary composer and producer Bob Belden said: “Scott Kinsey has taken the language of the synthesizer to the highest level in our modern times, as he is the first generation of keyboardists who developed electronically as opposed to the acoustic-centric classic piano model.” Kinsey continues to push the envelope in exhilarating ways on his outstanding new release, ‘We Speak Luniwaz’.