THE STEVE KUHN TRIO — Looking Back (1991) FLAC (tracks), lossless

Steve Kuhn is in a fun-loving mood on this trio date from 1990, accompanied by bassist David Finck and drummer Lewis Nash. His one original of the session, "Looking Back," is full of humorous moments in a driving post-bop setting, and his lagging a bit behind the beat while giving Dave Brubeck's "The Duke" a bit of an oriental sound at times is almost tongue-in-cheek. But not everything is played with a twinkle in his eye; "Stella by Starlight" is lush and dramatic, as is Michel Colombier's pretty ballad "Emmanuel." Kuhn captures the droll mood of the golden oldie "Gee Baby, Ain't I Good to You" with a campy, almost country-flavored approach. This is an outstanding date by a veteran musician who's always deserving of wider recognition for his efforts. Ken Dryden
Tracklist :
1    Looking Back 7:01
Written-By – Steve Kuhn
2    The Duke 5:39
Written-By – Dave Brubeck
3    How Insensitive 5:52
Written-By – Antonio Carlos Jobim, Norman Gimbel, Vinicius De Moraes
4    Stella By Starlight 7:21
Written-By – Ned Washington, Victor Young
5    Alone Together 8:40
Written-By – Howard Dietz - Arthur Schwartz
6    Gee Baby, Ain't I Good To You 5:05
Written-By – Andy Razaf, Don Redman
7    Baubles, Bangles And Beads 5:57
Written-By – George Forrest, Robert Wright
8    Zingaro 3:57
Written-By – Antonio Carlos Jobim
9    Will You Still Be Mine 5:13
Written-By – Matt Dennis, Thomas Adair
10    Emmanuel 3:57
Written-By – Michel Colombier
Credits :
Double Bass – David Finck
Piano – Steve Kuhn
Drums – Lewis Nash

STEVE KUHN — Remembering Tomorrow (1995) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

In a blindfold test it would be easy to identify pianist Steve Kuhn's CD as a stereotypical ECM recording. With its emphasis on space, rather slow development and occasional repetition, the performances of Kuhn, bassist David Finck and drummer Joey Baron (all but one of the 11 pieces are Kuhn originals) only occasionally rise above the level of background music. There are some heated moments on the sixth song ("All the Rest Is the Same") and the tenth ("Bittersweet Passages") but most of this set is rather sleepy and melancholy, not living up to the potential of these talented musicians. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    The Rain Forest    4:03
 Steve Kuhn
2    Oceans In The Sky    7:53
 Steve Kuhn
3    Lullaby    4:46
 Steve Kuhn
4    Trance    8:00
 Steve Kuhn
5    Life's Backward Glance    5:13
 Steve Kuhn
6    All The Rest Is The Same    7:34
 Steve Kuhn
7    Emmanuel 5:03
 Michel Colombier
8    Remembering Tomorrow    7:51
 Steve Kuhn
9    The Feeling Within    6:00
 Steve Kuhn
10    Bittersweet Passages    4:45
 Steve Kuhn
11    Silver    6:53
 Steve Kuhn
Credits :
Double Bass – David Finck
Piano – Steve Kuhn
Drums – Joey Baron

STEVE KUHN — Countdown (1998) FLAC (tracks), lossless

A neglected figure in the overall scheme of modern jazz, perhaps this magnificent recording from the veteran pianist Kuhn will somewhat salve that wound. He is masterfully impressionistic, skillful as any, extra-lyrical, and his talent is in full array with substantive help from bassist David Finck and drummer Billy Drummond. In his flowery liner notes, Rafi Zabor refers to Kuhn's sound as that of utter "refracted beauty" -- a concise and apt a description for Kuhn's consistently brilliant musings. The bulk of the program is standards, reharmonized as the quick-witted John Coltrane title track, the lilting endless melody streams tacked on to "Four," or the "Milestones"-tagged version of "Speak Low" showing that as Kuhn is deep, he's also clever. Adapting "Why Did I Choose You?" as if walking on eggshells with a slight samba beat, Kuhn's dancing figures are steps he invents. Finck's singing bass solo accents the laid-back Benny Carter evergreen "When Lights Are Low," and Kuhn's take on "She's Funny That Way" expands further on this already exceptional melody. There are three of Kuhn's originals, totaling a mere 12 minutes. A recap on the piece from his Sheila Jordan phase, "Last Year's Waltz" gets a regret-filled rubato treatment seen through lavender-colored glasses. "Chalet" is as elegiac as any snow covered mountain home, while "Tomorrow's Son" is a rhapsodic, free entity with more cascading piano. Steve Swallow's "Wrong Together" is also included, weeping with even-keeled swing and repeated inquisitions as to why. This music clearly inspires all kinds of lush, regal imagery. It is Kuhn at his best, one of the more soul-stirring piano trio CDs of recent hearing, and a joy to listen to more than just once. Michael G. Nastos
Tracklist :
1    Countdown    3:48
 John Coltrane
2    Chalet    5:07
 Steve Kuhn
3    Last Year's Waltz    3:26
 Steve Kuhn
4    Wrong Together    6:26
 Steve Swallow
5    Four    7:06
 Miles Davis
6    Why Did I Choose You?    4:52
 Michael Leonard / Herbert Martin
7    When Lights Are Low    6:46
 Benny Carter / Cootie Williams
8    She's Funny That Way    4:30
 Neil Moret / Richard A. Whiting
9    Speak Low    9:32
 Ogden Nash / Kurt Weill
10    Tomorrow's Son    3:20
 Steve Kuhn
Credits :
Bass – David Finck
Drums – Billy Drummond
Piano – Steve Kuhn 

STEVE KUHN TRIO — The Best Things (2000) FLAC (tracks), lossless

This third trio CD for Kuhn on Reservoir yields much the same refined, intelligent, eminently enjoyable result as the previous efforts. Bassist David Finck and drummer Billy Drummond are totally in tune with the veteran pianist/leader, whose powers are consistently hovering at a high level these days, stoking the post-boppish fires of his youth with the wisdom and savvy of his years of performing and recording. Kuhn's personal growth curve is most prevalent as you hear the daunting touches within a quietly urgent stance on the well-worn and swung standard "The Best Things in Life Are Free." The pianist throws a tricky change-up on "Confirmation," a swiss-cheese version with giant holes carved out of the melody line, using tension and release effectively from the boppish head to relaxed bridge, liberally sprinkling "merrily we roll along" quotes along the way. Three of Kuhn's originals are included; a refreshingly original 12-bar blues "Two by Two," the very slow ballad "Adagio" featuring three note-patterned wordless vocals from Luciana Souza, and his famous kinetic soul waltz for Thurman Munson, "Poem for #15," a seemingly effortless, easily swung piece, the hallmark of this well-rehearsed and seasoned working trio. Also included is A.C. Jobim's lesser-known delicate waltz/ballad "Luiza," and the Bill Evans-identified, wonderfully rendered romantic evergreen "Portrait of Jennie." Another in a string of very consistent, musically advanced, universally listenable documents in Kuhn's thankfully growing discography. Recommended. Michael G. Nastos
Tracklist :
1    The Best Things In Life Are Free 8:26
Written-By – DeSylva, Henderson, Brown
2    Luiza 5:28
Written-By – Jobim
3    Two By Two 6:50
Composed By – Kuhn
4    Portrait Of Jennie 6:26
Written-By – Burge, Robinson
5    Confirmation 8:12
Written-By – Parker
6    Poem For #15 10:45
Composed By – Kuhn
7    Adagio 7:23
Composed By – Kuhn
Credits :
Bass – David Finck
Drums – Billy Drummond
Piano – Steve Kuhn
Vocals [Vocal] – Luciana Souza (tracks: 7)

STEVE KUHN TRIO – I Will Wait for You : The Music of Michel Legrand (2014) SACD | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1    Super Jet 5:30
Written-By – T. Dameron
2    Dear Old Stockholm 6:28
Traditional
3    Emily 7:16
Written-By – J. Mandel
4    Airegin 4:44
Written-By – S. Rollins
5    Morning Dew 6:00
Written-By – S. Kuhn
6    New Valley 6:51
Written-By – D. Finck
7    Dream Dancing 8:04
Written-By – C. Porter
8    Two For The Road 5:15
Written-By – H. Mancini
9    Be My Love 9:17
Written-By – N. Brodsky
10    Easy To Love 6:11
Written-By – C. Porter
Credits :
Bass – David Finck
Drums – Billy Drummond
Piano – Steve Kuhn

BADI ASSAD - Echoes of Brazil (1997) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Entirely instrumental, Echoes of Brazil finds Badi Assad making the acoustic guitar her sole focus and paying tribute to some of Brazil's many heroes of the instrument. This splendid CD may not be the last word on Brazilian guitarists (who have played a crucial role in samba, choro, bossa nova, tropicalismo and Brazilian classical), but Assad does a fine job of reminding us what some of them contributed. It would have been impossible to tell the entire story on a single CD, and she makes no pretense of her tribute being all-inclusive. Assad, whose only accompaniment is acoustic bassist David Finck, salutes everyone from Garoto and Laurindo Almeida to Egberto Gismonti, Baden Powell and Luiz Bonfá. Much to her credit, she doesn't become a slavish imitator of any of them, and consistently demonstrates that she is a distinctive and impressive representative of the guitar herself. by Alex Henderson
Tracklist :
1    Batucada (Nós E O Rio) 3:16
Written-By – Altamir Penha, Isaías Sávio, Edison Penha
2    Abismo De Rosas 4:35
Written-By – Canhoto
3    Escadão 4:16
Written-By – Laurindo Almeida
4    Emotiva No. 1 3:01
Written-By – Hélio Delmiro
5    Sem Título 2:05
Written-By – Luis Bonfá
6    Bachianinha No. 1 3:23
Written-By – Paulinho Nogueira
7    Interrogando 2:59
Written-By – João Pernambuco
8    Tempo Feliz 3:29
Written-By – Baden Powell
9    Uma Valsa E Dois Amores 3:08
Written-By – Dilermando Reis
10    Estudo Para Violão 4:23
Written-By – Egberto Gismonti
11    Jorge Da Fusa 2:53
Written-By – Garoto
12    Pixaim 2:57
Written-By – Marco Pereira
13    Furiosa 3:47
Written-By – Paulo Bellinati
14    Farewell 3:11
Written-By – Sérgio Assad
Credits :
Acoustic Bass – David Finck
Guitar [Fisher] – Badi Assad
Percussion – Jamey Haddad, Valtinho Anastacio

SHEILA JORDAN — Jazz Child (1999) APE (image+.cue), lossless

Making the supposition that she's an acquired taste, those who enjoy Jordan's unique singing will be thrilled with this release. She's reunited with the resourceful pianist Steve Kuhn who she made exceptional recordings with on ECM (Last Year's Waltz and Playground.) Her breathy, hither-come-yon, soulful voice, with an unmistakable Native American inflection and the quick witted, harmonic bebop foundation of her early days continues to earmark Jordan as one of the most important jazz singers of our time. Three cuts feature the artist with fellow vocalist Theo Bleckmann, and their voices mesh well together, especially on the kitschy, fun loving "Oh Henry." Bleckmann sounds bluesy and like a less histrionic Kurt Elling. The rest of the CD finds Jordan's material all over the map, from a vocal version of Don Cherry's "Art Deco," a revision replete with Indian scat of Steve Kuhn's "The Zoo," a take on Abbey Lincoln's "Bird Alone," and Cheryl Pyle's lyrics to Tom Harrell's "Buffalo Wings." All are outstanding examples of Jordan's uncanny ability to make a song all her own. Ballads like "My Ship," "The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress," and "Everything Happens to Me" are further proof of her total command and love for the American popular song tradition. Precious music making can be difficult to grasp, much less embrace, especially from a populist standpoint. Getting next to Jordan's artistry should not be too difficult for the open minded. For those of you who are fans, you'll treasure this as one of her best efforts yet and a vocal jazz highlight of the year. Others can discover Jordan at the peak of her powers and revel in the deep blue, mysterious tones she conjures like no one else. Michael G. Nastos   
Tracklist :
1 Jazz Child 0:33
Sheila Jordan
2 The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress 5:22
Jimmy Webb
3 Reel Time 3:13
Chris Lee
4 Art Deco 6:16
Don Cherry / Sheila Jordan
5 The Zoo 4:17
Steve Kuhn
6 My Ship 4:03
Ira Gershwin / Kurt Weill
7 Oh Henry 3:17
Gil Fuller / Ernie Henry
8 Bird Alone 4:43
Abbey Lincoln
9 Medley: Ballad for Miles/My Funny Valentine 9:27
Lorenz Hart / Sheila Jordan / Richard Rodgers
10 Buffalo Wings 6:21
Tom Harrell / Sheila Jordan / Cheryl Pyle
11 Everything Happens to Me 4:37
Tom Adair / Matt Dennis
12 Medley: Everytime We Say Goodbye/For All We Know 5:38
Sam M. Lewis / Cole Porter
13 Jazz Child (Reprise) 0:36
Sheila Jordan
Credits :
Double Bass – Dave Finck
Drums – Billy Drummond
Piano – Steve Kuhn
Vocals – Sheila Jordan, Theo Bleckmann (tracks: 3, 7, 12)

TESSA SOUTER – Beyond The Blue (2012) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :

1. Prelude To The Sun (Beethoven's Symphony No.7, 2nd Movement) (3:55)

2. Beyond The Blue (Chopin's Prelude In E Minor, Opus 28, No.4) (6:01)

3. The Lamp Is Low (Ravel's Pavane. Adapted By Peter De Rose & Bert Shefter) (6:42)

4. Chiaroscuro (Tomaso Albinoni's Adagio In G Minor) (5:31)

5. Dance With Me (Borodin's Polovetsian Dances) (5:04)

6. Noa's Dream (Schubert's Serenade) (4:44)

7. En Aranjuez Con Tu Amor (Rodrigo's Concierto De Aranjuez) (7:08)

8. My Reverie (Debussy's Reverie. Lyric: Larry Clinton) (4:37)

9. Sunrise (Brahms' Symphony No.3, 3rd Movement) (4:45)

10. Baubles Bangles And Beads (Borodin's String Quartet In D, No.2, 

      2nd Movement. Adapted By Robert Wright & George Forrest) (4:22)

11. The Darkness Of Your Eyes (Faure's Pavane) (5:08)

12. Brand New Day (Faure's Elegy) (5:26)

Credits :

Accordion – Gary Versace

Bass – David Finck

Drums – Billy Drummond

Piano – Steve Kuhn

Saxophone – Joel Frahm

Vibraphone – Joe Locke

Vocals – Tessa Souter

PAQUITO D'RIVERA — TICO! TICO! (1989) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Paquito D'Rivera's alto and clarinet skills were ably displayed on this session, which featured him working in Afro-Latin, salsa, funk, swing and hard bop. Compositions ranged from intense, jam-flavored numbers with torrid solos, like "Recife's Blue" and the title tune, to introspective ballads, group pieces with rhythmically explosive sections and numbers displaying classical influences. The unifying force was D'Rivera, who also played tenor, but was most prominent on clarinet, doing both swing-oriented and looser, freer solos. While not as strict a jazz vehicle as his Columbia dates, this session presented a more eclectic, versatile Paquito D'Rivera. Ron Wynn
Tracklist :
1     Danza Caracteristica 5:47
Leo Brouwer
2     Añorado Encuentro 4:47
Alberto Vera, Bea Giraldo
3     Three Venezuelan Waltzes: Valse Criollo 1:03
Antonio Lauro
4     Three Venezuelan Waltzes: El Mardino 1:13
Antonio Lauro
5     Three Venezuelan Waltzes: Carola 1:46
Antonio Lauro
6     Tico-Tico 5:31
Jose Abreu / Ervin Drake / Aloysio Oliveira
7     Song for Maura 6:55
Paquito D'Rivera
8     To Brenda With Love 7:21
Paquito D'Rivera
9     Serenata 7:11
Carlos Franzetti
10     Elizabeth 4:56
Danilo Pérez
11     Chorinho No. 3: Sheep Meadow 2:17
David Chesky
12     Recife's Blue 7:14
Claudio Roditi
Credits :
Bass – David Finck (faixas: 1, 2, 5, 9, 10), Nilson Matta (faixas: 6 to 8, 12)
Drums – Mark Walker (faixas: 1. 2. 5. 9. 10), Porthino (faixas: 6 to 8, 12)
Executive-Producer – Norman Chesky
Guitar – Fareed Haque (faixas: 1), Romero Lubambo (faixas: 6, 8, 11), Tiberio Nascimiento (faixas: 4, 5)
Percussion – Raphael Cruz
Piano – Danilo Perez
Producer, Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Paquito D'Rivera

PAQUITO D'RIVERA — Havana Cafe (1992) APE (image+.cue), lossless

This excellent all-round session features Paquito D'Rivera on alto, clarinet, and soprano with his sextet, which is comprised of either Fareed Haque or Ed Cherry on guitar, the great pianist Danilo Perez, bassist David Finck, drummer Jorge Rossy, and percussionist Sammy Figueroa. The program has some strong group originals (such as "Havana Cafe," "Jean Pauline," "Who's Smoking?!," and "Bossa do Brooklyn"), and the result is an often-fiery set of modern Afro-Cuban jazz. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Havana Cafe 6:34
Danilo Pérez
2     Jean Pauline 8:38
Ed Cherry
3     The Search 8:03
Fareed Haque
4     Look at You 7:15
David Finck
5     Improvalsation 1:55
Paquito D'Rivera
6     Contradanza 1:32
Paquito D'Rivera
7     Who's Smoking?! 5:56
Paquito D'Rivera / Claudio Roditi
8     The Return 5:54
Fareed Haque
9     Bossa do Brooklyn 6:46
Claudio Roditi
10     What Are You Doing Tomorrow Night? 5:47
Lucio Godoy
Credits :
Alto Saxophone, Clarinet, Sopranino Saxophone – Paquito D'Rivera
Bass – David Finck
Drums – Jorge Rossy
Guitar – Ed Cherry (faixas: 2 and 7), Fareed Haque
Percussion – Sammy Figueroa
Piano – Danilo Perez
Producer – David Chesky, Paquito D'Rivera