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Steve Kuhn (b. Brooklyn, NY, March 24, 1938) is an American jazz pianist, composer and trio leader.
BiographyHe began studying piano at the age of five and studied under legendary Boston piano teacher Margaret Chaloff, mother of jazz baritone saxophonist Serge Chaloff, who taught him the "Russian style" of piano. At an early age he began improvising classical music. As a teenager he appeared in jazz clubs in the Boston area, gigging with the likes of Coleman Hawkins, Vic Dickerson, Chet Baker, and Serge Chaloff. He graduated from Harvard and attended the Lenox School of Music where he was associated with such other future jazz masters as Ornette Coleman, Don Cherry, and Gary McFarland, with a supportive faculty that included George Russell, Gunther Schuller, the Modern Jazz Quartet members, and Bill Evans. This allowed Mr Kuhn to play, study, and create with some of the most forward-thinking innovators of jazz improvisation and composition, culminating with his joining trumpeter Kenny Dorham's group for an extended time and then John Coltrane's quartet.
He also has appeared most notably with artists such as Stan Getz, Art Farmer, Oliver Nelson, Gary McFarland, Ron Carter, Scott LaFaro, Harvie Swartz, vocalist Shelia Jordan, Billy Drummond, David Finck, and Miroslav Vitous. From 1967 to 1971 Kuhn moved to Stockholm, Sweden where he worked with his own trio throughout Europe. In 1971 Kuhn moved back to New York and formed a quartet but continued doing European gigs, and appearing at the Newport Jazz Festival
. In his early years, Mr Kuhn was known as an 'avant-garde' pianist (but not "New Thing"). Steve Kuhn was the first pianist for the initial groundbreaking working quartet formed by John Coltrane for his first appearance at the Jazz Gallery in New York. Mr Kuhn was associated with bassist Steve Swallow and drummer Pete La Roca during the 1960s for several notable recordings: "Three Waves" under Kuhn's leadership, "Basra" under La Roca's leadership which also featured Joe Henderson, "Sing Me Softly Of The Blues" under the leadership of flugelhornist Art Farmer and the "Sound PIeces" quartet recordings led by saxophonist, composer, and arranger Oliver Nelson. Among other notable recordings which were also critically acclaimed was "The October Suite" written by Gary McFarland for Mr Kuhn and an ensemble which included strings, woodwinds, and reeds. Yet another very notable and critically praised CD is called "Promises Kept" featuring Kuhn's compositions, piano, and strings. For decades, Mr Kuhn has led all-star trios that have included such luminaries as bassists Ron Carter and David Finck, and drummers Al Foster and Joey Baron. He has had several live recordings in some of New York's top jazz clubs. And Steve Kuhn continues to create highly inventive recordings and live dates well into his fifth decade of being a leading jazz musician, composer, and group leader.
DiscographyAs leader - 1966 - Three Waves: The Steve Kuhn Trio (Contact)
- 1968 - Steve Kuhn in Europe
- 1969 - Childhood Is Forever (Charly/BYG)
- 1972 - Chicken Feathers (With Monica Zetterlund)
- 1972 - Raindrops (Steve Kuhn Live in New York)
- 1972 - Steve Kuhn
- 1974 - Ecstasy (ECM)
- 1974 - Trance (ECM)
- 1977 - Motility (ECM)
- 1978 - Non-Fiction (ECM)
- 1979 - Playground (ECM)
- 1981 - ''Last Year's Waltz (ECM)
- 1984 Mostly Ballads (New World Records) with Harvie Swartz
- 1986 The Vanguard Time (Owl Time Line)
- 1986 ''Life's Magic (Black Hawk)
- 1988 Porgy (Jazz City)
- 1988 Porgy (Evidence) with Eddie Gomez, Buster Williams, Al Foster
- 1989 Oceans In The Sky (Owl)
- 1990 Looking Back (Concord)
- 1990 Live At Maybeck Recital Hall. Volume 13 (Concord)
- 1992 Years Later (Concord) with David Finck, Lewis Nash
- 1995 Remembering Tomorrow (ECM) with David Finck, Joey Baron
- 1995 Seasons Of Romance (Postcards) with Tom Harrell, Bob Mintzer, George Mraz, Al Foster
- 1998 Dedication (Reservoir) with David Finck, Billy Drummond
- 1998 "Love Walked In" (Venus) with Buster Williams and Bill Stewart
- 1999 Countdown (Reservoir)
- 2000 The Best Things (Reservoir)
- 2007 "Live at Birdland" (EMI/Blue Note) with Ron Carter and Al Foster
- 2009 "Mostly Coltrane" (ECM) with David Finck, Joey Baron, and guest Joe Lovano
As sideman - 1960 Kenny Dorham: Jazz Contemporary (Time)
- 1961 Stan Getz: Recorded Fall 1961 (Verve) mit Bob Brookmeyer, Roy Haynes
- 1965 Art Farmer: Sing Me Softly Of The Blues (Atlantic)
- 1966 Oliver Nelson: Sound Pieces (Impulse! Records)
- 1979 Steve Swallow: Home (ECM)
- 1991 Steve Swallow: Swallow (XtraWATT) with Carla Bley and John Scofield
- 1997 Sheila Jordan: Jazz Child (High Note)
As Collaborator - 1966 "The October Suite" (Impulse) with Gary McFarland
- 2004 "Promises Kept" (ECM) with Carlos Franzetti
Box Set Compilation- 2009 "Life's Backward Glances" (Box Set): Solo Piano, Trios, and Quartets with Steve Slagle or Sheila Jordan.
Copyright Citations
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