Steve Kuhn Trio - Watch What Happens! (1968) [vinyl>flac]

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. ~ by Ken Dryden, AMG.

The perfection and certainty of the Kuhn music are demonstrated by the fact that Steve recorded almost all numbers on this record in one single sweep. ~ Extract taken from Liner Notes by Joachim E. Berendt.

This LP was one of the original Steve Kuhn albums I bought way back in the late seventies. One I always keep coming back to with fresh ears, Enjoy!

MPS/BASF Records, CRM 676, 1971

Recorded 4^th July, 1968 at MPS Tonstudio Villingen/Black Forest, Germany

Personnel:

Steve Kuhn - Piano

Palle Danielsson - Bass

Jon Christensen - Drums

Track Listing:

A1. Watch What Happens {Michel Legrand} (2:47)

A2. Silver {Steve Kuhn} (2:14)

A3. Lament {Jay Jay Johnson}, Once We Loved {Gary McFarland} (6:54)

A4. Tom Jones {John Addison, Mack Davis} (6:37)

B1. Windows Of The World, Here I Am {Burt Bacherach} (4:17)

B2. I Fall In Love Too Easily {Sam Cahn, Jule Styne} (4:03)

B3. Ad Infinitum {Carla Bley} (8:56)

Credits:

Producer - Hans Georg Brunner-Schwer, Joachim E. Berendt

Recording Engineer - Hans Georg Brunner-Schwer

Recording Director - Willi Fruth

Photos - German Hasenfratz

Graphic Work - Heinz Bahr

Cover - Lucio Fontana

Liner Notes - Joachim E. Berendt