Steve Kuhn (born March 24, 1938) is an American jazz pianist, composer, arranger, bandleader, and educator. He is the composer of the jazz standard "The Saga of Harrison Crabfeathers".
Biography Kuhn was born in New York City, New York, to Stella (née Kaufman) and Carl Kuhn, and was raised in Newton, Massachusetts. His parents were Hungarian-Jewish immigrants. At the age of five, he began studying piano under Boston piano teacher Margaret Chaloff, mother of jazz baritone saxophonist Serge Chaloff, who taught him the "Russian style" of piano playing. At an early age he began improvising classical music. As a teenager, he appeared in jazz clubs in the Boston area with Chet Baker, Coleman Hawkins, Vic Dickenson, and Serge Chaloff.
After graduating from Harvard, he attended the Lenox School of Music where he was associated with Ornette Coleman, Don Cherry, and Gary McFarland. The school's faculty included Bill Evans, George Russell, Gunther Schuller, and the members of the Modern Jazz Quartet. This allowed Kuhn to play, study, and create with some of the most forward-thinking innovators of jazz improvisation and composition; it culminated with his joining trumpeter Kenny Dorham's group for an extended time and (briefly) John Coltrane's quartet at New York's Jazz Gallery club.
Kuhn also has appeared with Stan Getz, Art Farmer, Oliver Nelson, Gary McFarland, Ron Carter, Scott LaFaro, Harvie Swartz, vocalist Sheila Jordan, Billy Drummond, David Finck, and Miroslav Vitous. From 1967 to 1971 Kuhn lived in Stockholm, Sweden where he worked with his own trio throughout Europe. In 1971 Kuhn moved back to New York City and formed a quartet but continued doing European gigs and appearing at the Newport Jazz Festival.
In his early years, Kuhn was known as an avant-garde jazz pianist. He was associated with bassist Steve Swallow and drummer Pete La Roca during the 1960s on several notable recordings: Three Waves, under Kuhn's leadership; Basra, under La Roca's leadership, which also featured Joe Henderson; and Sing Me Softly of the Blues under flugelhornist Art Farmer's leadership. Also notable was Kuhn's inclusion in the quartet on the landmark recording Sound Pieces led by saxophonist, composer, and arranger Oliver Nelson and including Ron Carter on bass and Grady Tate on drums. Among other critically acclaimed recordings there was The October Suite composed by Gary McFarland for Kuhn and an ensemble which included strings, woodwinds, and reeds. The Promises Kept album features Kuhn's compositions, piano, and strings.
For decades, Steve Kuhn has led all-star trios that have included such players as bassists Ron Carter, Buster Williams and David Finck, and drummers Al Foster, Jack DeJohnette, and Joey Baron. He has had several live recordings made in some of New York's leading jazz clubs. Kuhn is also the composer of the jazz standard "The Saga of Harrison Crabfeathers".
In late 2022, Kuhn announced that he had retired from touring.
Discography As leader/co-leader Recording dateTitleLabelYear releasedNotes 1960–111960PJL2005Trio, with Scott LaFaro (bass), Pete La Roca (drums)1963The Country and Western Sound of Jazz PianosDauntless1963With Toshiko Akiyoshi (piano, cello), Barry Galbraith (guitar), David Izenzon and John Neves (bass), Pete La Roca (drums) 1966?Three WavesContact1966Trio, with Steve Swallow (bass), Pete La Roca (drums) 1966–10,1966–11The October SuiteImpulse!1967Co-led with Gary McFarland (conductor); with Isadore Cohen and Matthew Raimondi (violin), Alfred Brown (viola), Charles McCracken (violincello), Ron Carter (bass), Marty Morell (drums) 1968–07Watch What Happens!MPS1968Trio, with Palle Danielsson (bass), Jon Christensen (drums); also released as Steve Kuhn in Europe by Prestige 1969–10Childhood Is ForeverBYG1971 Trio, with Steve Swallow (bass), Aldo Romano (drums) 1971–07 Steve KuhnBuddah1971With Ron Carter (bass), Billy Cobham (drums), Airto Moreira (percussion), string quartet 1972–06Steve Kuhn Live in New YorkCobblestone1972Quartet, with George Mraz (bass), Bruce Ditmas (drums), Sue Evans (percussion); in concert; also released as Raindrops by Muse1974–11EcstasyECM1975Solo piano1974–11TranceECM1975Quartet, with Steve Swallow (electric bass), Jack DeJohnette (drums), Sue Evans (percussion) 1977–01MotilityECM1977Quartet, with Steve Slagle (flute, soprano sax, alto sax), Harvie Swartz (bass), Michael Smith (drums) 1978–04NonFictionECM1978Quartet, with Steve Slagle (flute, soprano sax, alto sax, percussion), Harvie Swartz (bass), Bob Moses (drums) 1979–07PlaygroundECM1980 Quartet, with Harvie Swartz (bass), Bob Moses (drums), Sheila Jordan (vocals) 1981–04Last Year's WaltzECM1982 Quartet, with Harvie Swartz (bass), Bob Moses (drums), Sheila Jordan (vocals); in concert 1984–01Mostly BalladsPolydor1986 Duo, with Harvie Swartz (bass) 1986–03The Vanguard DateOwl1991Trio, with Ron Carter (bass), Al Foster (drums); in concert 1986–03Life's MagicBlack Hawk1986Trio, with Ron Carter (bass), Al Foster (drums); in concert 1988–12PorgyJazz City1989Most tracks trio, with Eddie Gómez and Buster Williams (bass; separately), Al Foster (drums); some tracks quartet, with Laura Anne Taylor (vocals) added 1989–09Oceans in the SkyOwl1990Trio, with Miroslav Vitouš (bass), Aldo Romano (drums) 1990–10Looking Back Concord Jazz 1991Trio, with David Finck (bass), Lewis Nash (drums) 1990–11Live at Maybeck Recital Hall, Volume Thirteen Concord Jazz 1991Solo piano; in concert 1992–09Years Later Concord Jazz 1993Trio, with David Finck (bass), Lewis Nash (drums) 1993–03In the ShadowsOwl 1994Co-leader with Carol Fredette (vocals) 1994–04Live in Japan Vol.1 & Vol.2PJL 2004Co-leader duo with Steve Swallow (electric bass) 1995–03Remembering TomorrowECM1996Trio, with David Finck (bass), Joey Baron (drums) 1995–03Two by 2Owl1996Co-leader duo with Steve Swallow (bass)1995–03Seasons of RomancePostcards1995With Bob Mintzer (tenor sax), Tom Harrell (trumpet), George Mraz (bass), Al Foster (drums) 1993–03,1994–09,1996–09 In Cafe Tokuma 1997 Solo piano 1997–09Sing Me Softly of the BluesVenus 1997Trio, with George Mraz (bass), Pete La Roca (drums) 1997–10Dedication Reservoir 1998Trio, with David Finck (bass), Billy Drummond (drums) 1998–09Love Walked InVenus 1998Trio, with Buster Williams (bass), Bill Stewart (drums) 1998–10Countdown Reservoir 1999Trio, with David Finck (bass), Billy Drummond (drums) 1999–12The Best Things Reservoir2000Most tracks trio, with David Finck (bass), Billy Drummond (drums); one track quartet, with Luciana Souza (vocals) 2000–02Quiereme MuchoVenus2000Trio, with David Finck (bass), Al Foster (drums) 2000–06,2000–09Promises KeptECM2004Trio, with David Finck (bass), strings 2001–06TemptationVenus2001Trio, with Buster Williams (bass), Billy Drummond (drums) 2002–05Waltz - Blue SideVenus2002Trio, with Gary Peacock (bass), Billy Drummond (drums) 2002–05Waltz - Red SideVenus2002Trio, with Eddie Gomez (bass), Billy Drummond (drums) 2004–02Easy to LoveVenus2004Trio, with David Finck (bass), Billy Drummond (drums) 2005–08Pavane for a Dead PrincessVenus2006Trio, with David Finck (bass), Billy Drummond (drums) 2006–07 Live at BirdlandBlue Note2007Trio, with Ron Carter (bass), Al Foster (drums); in concert 2006–08Plays StandardsVenus2007Trio, with Buster Williams (bass), Al Foster (drums) 2007–08Baubles, Bangles And BeadsVenus2008Trio, with David Finck (bass), Billy Drummond (drums) 2008–12Mostly ColtraneECM2009Quartet, with Joe Lovano (tenor sax, tárogató), David Finck (bass), Joey Baron (drums) 2010–02I Will Wait for You: The Music of Michel LegrandVenus2010Trio, with George Mraz (bass), Billy Drummond (drums) 2011–09WisteriaECM2012Trio, with Steve Swallow (electric bass), Joey Baron (drums) 2013–10Break of DayMeantime2014Co-leader with Karin Krog (vocals) 2015–08At This Time...Sunnyside2016Trio, with Steve Swallow (electric bass), Joey Baron (drums) 2017–09To and From the HeartSunnyside2018Trio, with Steve Swallow (electric bass), Joey Baron (drums)
Compilations Life's Backward Glances (ECM, 2009) – Solo Piano, Trios, and Quartets with Steve Slagle or Sheila Jordan Essential Best (Venus, 2011)
As sideman With Stan Getz 1961: Recorded Fall 1961 with Bob Brookmeyer (Verve, 1961) 1961: At Birdland 1961 (Fresh Sound, 2012) 1963: Stan Getz With Guest Artist Laurindo Almeida with Laurindo Almeida (Verve, 1966)
With Steve Swallow 1979: Home (ECM, 1980) 1991: Swallow (XtraWATT, 1992)
With others David Darling, Cycles (ECM, 1982) Kenny Dorham, Jazz Contemporary (Time, 1960) Art Farmer, Sing Me Softly of the Blues (Atlantic, 1965) Don Heckman and Ed Summerlin, The Don Heckman–Ed Summerlin Improvisational Jazz Workshop (Ictus, 1967) Jameszoo, Fool (Brainfeeder, 2016) Sheila Jordan, Jazz Child (HighNote, 1997) Lee Konitz, Pony Poindexter, Phil Woods and Leo Wright, Alto Summit (MPS, 1968) Karin Krog, We Could Be Flying (Polydor, 1975) Charles McPherson, But Beautiful (Vinus, 2004) Bob Mintzer, Bop Boy with Eddie Gomez and Steve Gadd (Explore, 2002) Tisziji Munoz, Incomprehensibly Gone (Anami, 2013) Oliver Nelson, Sound Pieces (Impulse!, 1967) John Rae, Opus de Jazz 2 (Savoy, 1960) Pete La Roca, Basra (Blue Note, 1965) Pee Wee Russell and Henry "Red" Allen, The College Concert (Impulse!, 1966) – live Tessa Souter, Beyond The Blue (Vinus, 2012)
References
External links Steve Kuhn discography at JazzDiscography.com Steve Kuhn on ECM Records Steve Kuhn at SunnysideRecords.com Interview with Steve Kuhn Steve Kuhn in-studio performance from WGBH Radio Boston NY Times -- Steve Kuhn: Revisiting an Old Boss Named John Coltrane Steve Kuhn Interview NAMM Oral History Library (1997)