Steve Kuhn Quartet
Last Year's Waltz
ECM Records (Germany) 1982
ECM 1213 (LP) Original pressing.
sleeve : EX-(dirts on spine)
media : EX+/EX+(some slightly noise)
Released in 1982, this album is by American pianist Steve Kuhn, who encountered Ornette Coleman, Don Cherry, and others at the Lenox School of Jazz after graduating from Harvard University, where he was exposed to their revolutionary approach to jazz. He later came to prominence through his work with Kenny Dorham and John Coltrane. The album documents a live performance recorded the previous year at Fat Tuesday’s in New York. Kuhn is joined by bassist Harvie Swartz and drummer Bob Moses, with singer Sheila Jordan—who had appeared on the previous year’s masterpiece Playground—completing the ensemble. Highlights include the buoyant samba-jazz of A2, energized by Jordan’s brilliant scat singing, and B1, a Latin-jazz composition by Harvie Swartz. The performances are filled with the irresistible groove and spontaneous energy that only a live setting can produce. Highly recommended. Original German pressing.
A1: Turn to Gold
A2: The Drinking Song
B1: Mexico