Steve Kuhn & Toshiko Akiyoshi - The Country & Western Sound Of Jazz Pianos (1963)

This is surely one of the more unusual jazz LPs to emerge during the 1960s, featuring pianists Steve Kuhn and Toshiko Akiyoshi and bassists Dave Izenzon and John Neves, along with guitarist Barry Galbraith and drummer Pete Laroca Sims, playing country & western songs in jazz arrangements. A lot of jazz fans overlook the fact that there were some strong melodies written by country musicians in the 1950s and 1960s, and many of these songs work very well in the hands of this sextet. Akiyoshi leans more toward bop, with Kuhn usually lagging behind the beat; while Izenzon plays the higher often arco bass parts as Neves walks underneath him. "Hang Your Head in Shame" is particularly adventurous, while Akiyoshi switches to celesta for the ballad "May the Good Lord Bless You and Keep You." This record will likely appeal to the small minority of jazz fans who enjoy duo pianos and songs that are a bit off the beaten path. Finding this long out of print record on the long defunct Dauntless label may be the biggest challenge that collectors face. ~  by Ken Dryden, AMG.

Dauntless Records, DS-6308, 1963
Chiaroscuro Records, CR 2026, 1980
Dauntless Records, DC 6003, 2002
Recorded in New York, 1963

Musicians:
Steve Kuhn - Piano, Harpsichord
Toshiko Akiyoshi - Piano, Celesta
Barry Galbraith - Guitar
Dave Izenzon, John Neves - Bass
Pete LaRoca - Drums 

Tracks:
A1. Trouble In Mind {Richard Mariney Jones} (4:40)
A2. Hang Your Head In Shame {Edward G. Nelson, Fred Rose} (3:53)
A3. May The Good Lord Bless And Keep You {Robert Reiniger, Meredith Willson} (3:20)
A4. Someday You’ll Want Me To Want You {James S. Hodges} (4:21)
A5. Down In The Valley {Traditional} (3:41)
B1. Beautiful Brown Eyes {Grace Walters} (4:21)
B2. It’s No Secret What God Can Do {Carl Stuart Hamblen} (4:47)
B3. Nobody’s Darling But Mine {James Houston Davis} (3:23)
B4. Along The Navajo Trail {Eddie DeLange, Larry Markes, Dick Charles} (3:23)
B5. Foggy, Foggy Dew {Traditional} (4:32) 

Total Time: 40:21

Credits:
Producer - Jordi Pujol [CD release]
Recording Engineer - Richard Olmsted
Re-recording - William Hamilton
Mastering - Ray Hagerty
Photography - Ray Ross
Design - Irving Sloane
A&R - Tom Wilson
Arranger, Conductor, Liner Notes - Edgar Summerlin 

"Steve Kuhn and Toshiko Akiyoshi are relatively unknown outside of jazz circles. Both are modernists and have styles that are quite different. Toshiko's playing is more of Bud Powell school, with long lines and explosions of notes in the right hand, and a more percussive, brittle approach than Steve. On the other hand, Steve has a more introspective, reflective way of playing -more behind the beat than Toshiko. The two styles compliment and offset each other beautifully. I wrote the arrangements for this album knowing that with these musicians it had a good chance of being successful. After conducting the sessions, I knew that my faith had been well-founded. I think their playing is great. I think you will too." ~ Edgar Summerlin (from the inside liner-notes).

Steve Kuhn - Raindrops [Live In New York] (1972) [vinyl>flac]

This album captures a live performance of another underrated pianist. Steve Kuhn is joined by a dynamic rhythm section. Bruce Ditmas in particular adds a definite and stunning beat to some of Kuhn's own intrinsic compositions. The sounds emanating from the electric piano are very compelling listening. As with bands of this same period there is a tendency for the players to drift into freer deliveries touching on fusion. Kuhn's use of the electric piano is quite unique. He has tended to stick to acoustic in recent years. Listening to "Ida Lupino" there are similarities to the sounds Paul Bley was exchanging through his various groups over that same period. In this regard take the opportunity to be encapsulated by a great period quartet.

Cobblestone Records, CST 9020, 1972

Muse Records, MR 5106, 1976

Recorded in 1972 at Folk City, New York

Musicians:

Steve Kuhn - Acoustic & Electric Pianos, Vocals

George Mraz - Bass

Bruce Ditmas - Drums

Sue Evans - Percussion

Tracks:

A1. Gloria's Theme {Bronislaw Kaper} (5:11)

A2. The Child Is Gone {Steve Kuhn} (3:03)

A3. The Real Guitarist [In The House] {Steve Kuhn} (6:31)

A4. The Saga Of Harrison Crabfeathers {Steve Kuhn} (5:20)

B1. Chicken Feathers {Steve Kuhn} (6:43)

B2. Ida Lupino {Carla Bley} (4:12)

B3. Raindrops, Raindrops {Steve Kuhn} (4:30)

B4. Thoughts Of A Gentleman {Steve Kuhn} (3:09)

Credits:

Producer - Helen Keane

Art Direction, Design, Photography - Hal Wilson

Notes:

Applause edited from original rip retained only in introduction.

Also released on Happy Bird B/90082, Germany, 1976

and Jazz & Blues History, Vol. 60 - Tobacco Road B/2560

Steve Kuhn - Non-Fiction (1978) [vinyl>flac]

Steve Kuhn is the all-purpose element: his presence heightens any musical concoction. Like no jazz pianist I know, he is aware of the negative spaces between his notes and shapes those spaces to suit the emotional needs of the tune. And what a set of tunes we have in Non-Fiction, a sorely out-of-print firecracker in dire need of a digital fuse. Speaking of conflagration, nothing singes our brow in any Kuhn project quite like “Firewalk,” which, despite its characteristically spacious feel, is clear and present (I bow to the uncredited engineer on this one). Kuhn accolades aside, it’s the sopranism of reedman Steve Slagle that really sets these coals to glowing and cradles every assured step in the liberation of play. Bob Moses and Harvie Swartz - an ideally suited rhythm section if there ever was one - lock the “Random Thoughts” that follow into lively traction. Slagle opts for flute and alto sax over a constantly shifting sonic palette. Whenever he isn’t breathing, he keeps his hands busy with additional percussion. (Unfortunately, the latter comes across as intrusive to my ears during headphone listening. External speakers will remedy this.) “A Dance With The Wind” and “The Fruit Fly” reverse the scales with a collective dose of whimsy and nostalgia. Swartz is simply fantastic here, weaving deftly through Kuhn’s canvas of vamps with distinct yet harmonious brushstrokes of its own. If anything has been missing so far, we find it all collected in “Alias Dash Grapey,” which has it all: a sweeping piano intro, replete with unrestrained cries from Kuhn, a spirited collage of solos (Moses ever palpable), and a deep sense of communication.

This is a tight album with plenty to unpack through repeated listening. Its energies fluctuate in volume, but always to the beat of Kuhn’s erudite dictation. As worth tracking down on vinyl as it is waiting for an appearance on CD. ~ ECM Reviews

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. ~ by Scott Yanow, AMG.

ECM Records, ECM 1124, 1978

Recorded April, 1978 at Tonstudio Bauer, Ludwigsburg, Germany

Personnel:

Steve Kuhn - Piano, Percussion

Steve Slagle - Alto & Soprano Saxes, Flute, Percussion

Harvie Swartz - Bass

Bob Moses - Drums

Track Listing:

A1. Firewalk {Harvie Swartz} (7:54)

A2. Random Thoughts {Steve Kuhn} (8:03)

A3. A Dance With The Wind {Harvie Swartz} (5:43)

B1. The Fruit Fly {Steve Kuhn} (5:51)

B2. Alias Dash Grapey {Steve Kuhn} (11:49)

Credits:

Producer - Manfred Eicher

Layout - Barbara Wojirsch

Photography - Deborah Feingold

Cover Photo - Klaus Frahm

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

Steve Swallow - Home

Steve Swallow – Home · Music By Steve Swallow To Poems By Robert Creeley
Label:ECM Records – ECM 1160 (vinyl to flac)

A1 Some Echoes 5:35    
A2 "She Was Young..." (From "The Finger") 3:32    
A3 "Nowhere One..." 4:57    
A4 Colors     4:22    
A5 Home     3:20    
B1 In The Fall 4:00    
B2 "You Didn't Think..." 2:53    
B3 Ice Cream 4:16    
B4 Echo     5:22    
B5 Midnight 3:42



    Bass, Composed By – Steve Swallow
    Design – Barbara Wojirsch
    Drums – Bob Moses
    Engineer [Recording] – David Baker
    Lyrics By [Poems] – Robert Creeley
    Mixed By – Martin Wieland
    Photography By [Cover] – Joel Meyerowitz
    Piano – Steve Kuhn
    Producer – Manfred Eicher
    Saxophone – David Liebman
    Synthesizer – Lyle Mays
    Voice – Sheila Jordan

Recorded September 1979 at Columbia Recording Studios, New York

"This is a fine (& rare) example of a composer really hearing & bringing out a poet's voice inside the poems. Bob Creeley's concentrated poetry packs an emotional wallop behind an occasionally cool facade. So it is an interesting test to place these words/lyrics with a female singer. Perhaps the most important test is that the poems do function as lyrics, generating an unexpected musical-ness. The band is wonderful. Everyone plays with creative commitment to the material & to Steve Swallow's vision. The proceedings feel a bit dry here & there, the Manfred Eicher Effect. But this is a very good album; one of the few I recommend to poets for both pleasure & the possibilities it suggests."

Bob Rixon