Record Reviews

JOACHIM KUHN ~ UNIVERSAL TIME UNIVERSAL 044001667121 (Barcode: 044001667121) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2001 Released: 2002 This is an album by German pianist / composer / bandleader Joachim KuhnFind albums by this artist, recorded in a trio setting with American bassist Scott ColleyFind albums by this artist and Cuban drummer Horacio HernandezFind albums by this artist. French saxophonist / bass clarinetist Michel PortalFind albums by this artist and American saxophonist Chris PotterFind albums by this artist guest on selected tracks. The album presents eleven tracks, nine composed by Kuhn and two by Ornette ColemanFind albums by this artist. Kuhn plays piano on nine tracks and saxophone on two tracks. The music is a brilliant example of modern European Jazz with a large degree of Freedom and Improvisation, but based on strictly and brilliantly composed themes. The lineup shifts between trio, quartet and quintet settings, and allows wonderful interplay between these exceptional musicians. Kuhn is undoubtedly one of the most unique and innovative European Jazz musicians, and this album, as in fact all of his recordings, clearly show why. Kuhn dominates the proceedings with his virtuosic piano parts, mostly played at a hyper-fast tempo, but all the musicians get a chance to solo and show their chops, and the excellent rhythm section manages to keep standard time most of the time. For me, Kuhn is one of the greatest and most talented weavers of wonderful melodies, and this album is full of these. Overall, this is a superb album and sadly one of the lesser known in the extensive recorded legacy by Kuhn, which is absolutely worth being discovered, although it is not easy to be found these days. The hair-raising virtuosity of Kuhn has but a few equals in modern Jazz and he never recorded an album, which is not worthy of an honorable place in a serious modern Jazz record collection.

Updated: 12/08/2024Posted: 12/08/2024

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