STEVE KUHN TRIO — Watch What Happens! (1968-2006) RM | Serie European Collection – 22 | FLAC (tracks), lossless

Like many pianists, Steve Kuhn seems to put out one quality disc after another but doesn't ever seem to get the attention he deserves. This beautifully recorded studio date from 1968, with bassist Palle Danielsson and drummer Jon Christensen, is a good example. Eschewing the typical easygoing approaches to Michel Legrand's "Watch What Happens," he launches into a very brisk bossa nova arrangement. J.J. Johnson's gorgeous ballad "Lament" was never in better hands as Kuhn delivers a shimmering but poignant performance; the piece segues into Gary McFarland's unjustly neglected "Once We Loved." A mini-medley of Burt Bacharach songs, "Windows of the World" and "Here I Am," with its unusual chanting introduction, has also stood the test of time. Carla Bley's "Ad Infinitum" delves briefly into the avant-garde but quickly reverts to post-bop. [The Japanese reissue of this long unavailable session, originally on MPS, retains the identical gatefold packaging of the LP, complete with photos and liner notes -- a very nice touch.] Ken Dryden
Tracklist :
1    Watch What Happens 2:50
Written-By – Michel Legrand
2    Silver 2:17
Written-By – Steve Kuhn
3    Lament / Once We Loved 6:57
Written-By [Lament] – Jay Jay Johnson
Written-By [Once We Loved] – Gary McFarland
4    Tom Jones 6:41
Written-By – John Addison, Mack Davis
5    Windows Of The World / Here I Am 4;20
Written-By – Burt Bacharach
6    I Fall In Love Too Easily 4:07
Written-By – Cahn-Styne
7    Ad Infinitum 8:57
Written-By – Carla Bley
Credits :
Double Bass – Palle Danielsson
Drums – Jon Christensen
Piano – Steve Kuhn

STEVE KUHN — The Early 70's (1971-2007) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This is the almost more about the other Jazz side of Steve Khun the vocalist, not the Pianist. When he plays piano, it is within the language of avant garde classical, and the presence of a string quartet affirms that soundscape, yet the Jeckyll to the Hyde of that is the singing is mellifluous, accompanied by gentle Electric piano. It is in the spirit of Michael Franks, and a delight in being so. In a long and distinguished career with some of jazz' s greats, this is his oddity. Yet for the most part, the unusual experiment works, I think for the most part that there is a nostalgia for early fusion, and this is the sleeper in that format. The best instrumental tracks on the lp are comparable with the Return to Forever tracks with no guitarist on them. The later Kuhn ECM albums embrace that early hard to post bop language and have him back in the piano seat without the vocal mike. Mark Harrington
Tracklist :
1    The Zoo (a.k.a. Pearlie's Swine)    5:29
Written-By – Steve Kuhn
2    Silver    4:38
Written-By – Steve Kuhn
3    Tomorrow's Son (a.k.a. Time To Go)    3:23
Written-By – Steve Kuhn
4    The Heat Of The Moment    1:56
Written-By – Steve Kuhn
5    Saharan (a.k.a. The Baby)    4:46
Written-By – Steve Kuhn
6    The Drinking Song (a.k.a. Hold Out Your Hand)    3:12
Written-By – Steve Kuhn
7    The Meaning Of Love    2:54
Written-By – Steve Kuhn
8    Remembering Tomorrow (a.k.a. Ulla)    4:22
Written-By – Steve Kuhn
9    A Change Of Face    3:34
Written-By – Steve Kuhn
10    Day Dreaming 2:59
Written-By – Aretha Franklin
11    Something Everywhere    4:47
Written-By – Steve Kuhn
12    Trance    4:41
Written-By – Steve Kuhn
13    Last Tango In Paris 2:37
Written-By – Gato Barbieri
14    Life's Backward Glance    3:06
Written-By – Steve Kuhn
Credits :
Acoustic Bass, Electric Bass – Ron Carter (tracks: 1 to 8)
Arranged By – Gary McFarland (tracks: 1 to 8), Steve Kuhn (tracks: 1 to 8)
Conductor – Gary McFarland (tracks: 1 to 8)
Drums – Billy Cobham (tracks: 1 to 8), Bruce Ditmas (tracks: 9 to 14)
Electric Bass – Steve Swallow (tracks: 9 to 14)
Electric Piano – Steve Kuhn
Percussion – Susan Evans (tracks: 9 to 14)
Percussion [Latin] – Airto Moreira (tracks: 1 to 8)
Piano – Steve Kuhn (tracks: 1 to 8)
Vocals – Steve Kuhn (tracks: 1 to 8, 14)

STEVE KUHN — Non-Fiction (1978) Vinyl, LP | 24-96Hz | FLAC (tracks), lossless

An interesting set of inside/outside music with a bit more energy than the more stereotypical ECM set, this set of five originals is performed by pianist Steve Kuhn (who was really developing his own original sound around this time), Steve Slagle (heard on alto, soprano and flute), bassist Harvie Swartz, and drummer Bob Moses. This is a fine release that was soon overshadowed by Kuhn's collaborations with singer Sheila Jordan. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
A1    Firewalk 8:00
Written-By – Harvie Swartz
A2    Random Thoughts 8:08
Written-By – Steve Kuhn
A3    A Dance With The Wind 5:48
Written-By – Harvie Swartz
B1    The Fruit Fly 5:54
Written-By – Steve Kuhn
B2    Alias Dash Grapey 11:57
Written-By – Steve Kuhn
Credits :
Bass – Harvie Swartz
Drums – Bob Moses
Piano, Percussion – Steve Kuhn
Producer – Manfred Eicher
Soprano Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Flute, Percussion – Steve Slagle

STEVE KUHN | ALDO ROMANO | STEVE SWALLOW — Childhood Is Forever (1971-1998) RM | FLAC (tracks), lossless

This date is a fine example of Steve Kuhn's concept of trio jazz. It was recorded in Paris, 1969. The programme is very well put together with exciting and varying interpretations of standards, with a cooking rendition of Steve Swallow's "Eiderdown" as a closing show-stopper. The trio is in exceptional good mood and delivers thoroughly inspired performances on every track. There is a latin tinge to most of the arrangements, but it is only truly explicit in the bossa/latin tunes. It keeps the vibe fresh and bouncy. The album also has a few excentric excurions into free/avantgarde but they act more as beacons of distant shores than points of focus – a sort of spice. Steve Swallow's bass work is nothing short of stellar through the whole album. As is drummer Aldo Romano's. This is arguably one of the better incarnations of the Steve Kuhn Trio and worthy of wider discovery.
It is a pity, though, that both the recording, the vinyl pressings and cd reissue are marred with serious sound quality issues. But, on the other hand, it sort of increases the feeling of having found a hidden, unpoilshed gem - which this album truly is. Tobias Berving
Tracklist :
1    The Night Has A Thousand Eyes 6:01
Written-By – J. Brainin
2    Spring Can Really Hang You The Most 6:48
Written-By – Wolf
3    Baubles, Bangles And Beads 5:03
Written-By – Forest, Wright
4    The Meaning Of The Blues 3:41
Written-By – B. Troup
5    All That's Left 5:48
Written-By – A.C. Jobim
6    I Waited For You 5:07
Written-By – W. Fuller
7    Eiderdown 4:25
Written-By – S. Swallow
Credits :
Bass – Steve Swallow
Drums – Aldo Romano
Piano – Steve Kuhn

STEVE KUHN — Life's Backward Glances : Solo and Quartet (2008) 3CD BOX-SET | Serie Old & New Masters Edition | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This collection brings together three much sought-after recordings by Steve Kuhn: the solo piano album “Ecstasy” (recorded 1974), and two quartet albums. “Motility” (1977) features the band of the same name with saxophonist Steve Slagle in the front line, while “Playground” (1979) is the album that introduced the Steve Kuhn-Sheila Jordan Quartet. Singer Jordan is of course one of the great jazz vocalists, and this was an inspired teaming. Kuhn himself is a superlative pianist of vast gifts; each of these recordings illuminates another aspect of his work. Of these three discs only “Ecstasy” was previously available on compact disc, and then only in Japan. “Motility” and “Playground” here receive their first CD releases. ECM
Tracklist :
(CD1) 1977 - Motility (ECM 2090)
1    The Rain Forest    6:20
2    Oceans In The Sky    5:07
3    Catherine    5:33
4    Bittersweet Passages    4:55
5    Deep Tango    7:28
6    Motility / The Child Is Gone    7:21
7    A Danse For One    3:00
8    Places I've Never Been    4:53
(CD2) 1979 - Playground (ECM 2091)
1    Tomorrow's Son    6:02
2    Gentle Thoughts    7:22
3    Poem For No. 15    7:08
4    The Zoo    4:32
5    Deep Tango    10:40
6    Life's Backward Glance    5:36
(CD3) 1974 - Ecstasy (ECM 2092)
1    Silver    8:53
2    Prelude In G    4:26
3    Ulla    7:23
4    Thoughts Of A Gentleman – The Saga Of Harrison Crabfeathers    12:16
5    Life's Backward Glance    4:50
Credits :
Double Bass – Harvie Swartz (tracks: 1-1 to 2-6)
Drums – Bob Moses (tracks: 2-1 to 2-6), Michael Smith (tracks: 1-1 to 1-8)
Executive-Producer – Manfred Eicher (tracks: 2-1 to 2-6)
Piano – Steve Kuhn
Soprano Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Flute – Steve Slagle (tracks: 1-1 to 1-8)
Voice – Sheila Jordan (tracks: 2-1 to 2-6)