Search - Steve Kuhn :: Remembering Tomorrow

Brilliant, Exhilirating Steve Kuhn Trio Outing

RBSProds | Deep in the heart of Texas | 12/03/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Five Big Stars! Steve Kuhn's latest outing, "Remembering Tomorrow", is a brilliant exhilirating winner. For four decades, Kuhn has continued to play an immediately recognizable, sizzlingly inventive jazz piano and to find empathetic support players for the trio framework. Drummer Joey Baron and bassist David Finck are empathetic and totally enjoyable throughout, especially on "The Rain Forest". But this is Steve's show and he plays wonderfully. Mainly in a balladic mood, Kuhn and Company find some hardswingers along the way.



The Piece D'Resistance is the swinging and beautifully executed "Oceans in the Sky", evoking the days of Kuhn's colloboration with drummer Pete LaRoca and bassist Steve Swallow on the legendary 1966 "Three Waves". Indeed, even the urgent 6/8 time, the freewheeling drums, and the rollling bass background are similar in structure but quite separate from "Three Waves" in execution, like the difference between the ocean and the sky. "Three Waves" was more turbulent, "Oceans in the Sky" is controlled, coiled fury. Kuhn's rolling left hand figure is one big difference and really makes the song's liquid intent spring to life.



"The Rain Forest" is mesmerizing in a different way. Steve's very hip seven-note introduction is an immediate grabber, much in the spirit of Dizzy's intro to "I Waited For You". "Rain Forest" requires tremendous trio patience while the suspended chords are stretched in order to reach the next release: it's a wonderful experience. Joey Baron's sizzling cymbal work is fantastic and is so integral to the success of the piece. Bassist David Finck's underpining is mainly arco and blends in well. The ironically titled "Bittersweet Passages" starts out slow and gentle, but is actually building to the full unleashing of a 4/4 beat storm as they let it all hang out. Highly recommended CD."

Jewel-like Impressionism

RBSProds | 12/21/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Steve Kuhn's sound is all about tone. He is able to extract jewel-like impressionism from simple, singing melodies. Like most of his early ECM recordings, now tragically out of print, Remembering Tomorrow gives ample demonstration of Kuhn's more introspective side. A rolling, romantic current fills out the spare arrangements throughout.Performing mostly originals in the trio format serves Kuhn well, since he tends to interact with players rather than solo off the rhythm section. Inevitable comparisons can be made to Bill Evans's famous Vanguard trio, but Kuhn's sound is quite distinct from his former mentor. Whereas the Evans trio sounded enchanting and delicate, Kuhn's performances can seem haunting--even eerie--and spare. Like Evans, Kuhn's touch is subtle,but he extracts far more psyhologically suggestive tones from the piano. Baron on drums adds a dynamic sizzle to the proceedings, while Vituous on bass weaves in and out of Kuhn's lines with expert malleability.Though Remembering Tomorrow is excellent, ECM should reissue Kuhn's early recordings to give a complete testament to this artist's considerable versatility and growth."

Joey Barron..

Thano J. Lomiento | poughkeepsie, ny United States | 09/15/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"is the reason why I picked up this release in the first place. I had heard of Steve Khun, but was unfamiliar with his music. Having seen joey play live several times with John Zorn, I was interested to hear him in this context. This is beautiful music. Corny as that sounds it is really the only way to put it. I have since moved on to other Khun records and learned a little about him...impressive career so far! It is nice to hear a pianist who is on the ECM label and does not ape Keith Jarrett, Steve has his own touch and the trio on this disc is empathetic and supportive throughout. Of course the disc is recorded wonderfully and you feel like your are three feet away from the music. Buy it."