Official Slacker Forums

[Vincenzo]

Check out the new Steve Kuhn: Mostly Coltrane on Slacker!

Pianist Steve Kuhn worked briefly with John Coltrane in February and March of 1960. This was just after ‘Trane had left Miles and was forming his concepts as a leader. In the liner to Mostly Coltrane, Steve states, “This music reflects my deep respect for him.”

This recording spotlights Kuhn’s working trio, with Joey Barron on drums and bassist David Fink. Special guest Joe Lovano does an exemplary job on tenor, sounding highly original, even on Coltrane originals. Lovano grew up immersed in Coltrane’s music. He has studied every phase of Coltrane’s development and his historical awareness serves him well on this venture.

Like Coltrane’s Classic Quartet (McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison, and Elvin Jones) this group breathes as one. There’s a lot of telepathic communication going on here and Lovano’s solos are inspired and thoroughly integrated with the trio.

The album was recorded in New York under the watchful eye of Manfred Eicher. Like most ECM albums, the sonic quality is top drawer. I felt like I had the quartet in my living room. Highlights include standards like “The Night Has a Thousand Eyes” and “I Want to Talk About You” and Coltrane’s “Like Sonny.”