Variety and Consistency in Perfect Proportion
Karl W. Nehring | Ostrander, OH USA | 10/04/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Kuhn's trio on this recording includes drummer Al Foster and bassist George Mraz. Three of the cuts feature the trio alone, three feature the trio augmented by the saxophone of Bob Mintzer, and three feature the trio augmented by the trumpet of Tom Harrell. Although this might sound like a strange mix of sounds, the basic musicianship of Kuhn provides a consistency to the proceedings that makes the program seem to be the product of a consistent vision amongst the players.
From my perspective, three cuts on this excellent recording stand out as extra-special; interestingly enough, each of those three cuts features a different cast of musicians. "Visions of Gaudi" features the trumpet of Tom Harrell, "The Pawnbroker" showcases the intense playing of Bob Mintzer, and "Remember" showcases Kuhn himself, as he demonstrates once again how he can seemingly separate his right hand from his left, as if each had a different musical idea - but both perfectly united in the service of the tune. All in all, this is quite a rewarding recording, one exhibiting both variety and consistency."