News & Reviews — Dependent Origination

"PETER KUHN TRIO With KYLE MOTL / NATHAN HUBBARD - The Other Shore (NoBusiness 88; Lithuania) Recorded in June of 2015 in San Diego. Featuring Peter Kuhn on B-flat & bass clarinets, tenor & alto saxes, Kyle Motl on bass and Nathan Hubbard on drums. After reading the long (24 page) booklet inside of the other newly released Peter Kuhn @ CD set on No Business, you get the full picture of the long & winding life/career of Mr. Kuhn who created some wonderful, creative music (3 albums) in the late seventies, succumbed to a long stretch of heroin addiction and giving up on music. And finally returning to music after some thirty years with two new discs this year (2016). Mr. Kuhn raised a family after being out of the limelight for three decades and currently lives in San Diego. While I hadn’t heard of the bassist Kyle Motl before this disc, I am familiar with drummer Nathan Hubbard from his work with Cosmologic, one of the best avant/jazz bands to emerge from San Diego in many years. Mr. Hubbard also has several discs out as a leader on the Circumvention label. Considering how long that Mr. Kuhn has been off the scene (more than 30 years), his playing still sounds strong and spirited, focused and thoughtful. This disc was recorded in a studio at UC San Diego in June of 2015. Kuhn’s splendid bass clarinet is a bit more restrained and well-worn, calm at the center for the first piece. Each member of the trio is impressive and integral to the solid group sound. When Mr. Kuhn switches to B-flat clarinet, the trio really take off and sail together. Later Kuhn moves to tenor sax, the trio slowly building in intensity, eventually soaring. Perhaps ‘The Other Shore’ of the Cd’s title refers to the West Coast where Mr. Kuhn has resided since leaving NY in 1981. After some three decades, Peter Kuhn is back and sounding better than ever. This trio is marvelous and play together with an assured organic grace, free-flowing music at its best. Why does some of the greatest music always come from those who rarely get the recognition they long deserve?!? - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG "

"PETER KUHN / DAVE SEWELSON / LARRY ROLAND / GERALD CLEAVER - Our Earth/Our World (pfMentum 0096; USA) Featuring Peter Kuhn on alto & tenor saxes & B-flat clarinet, Dave Sewelson on bari & sopranino saxes, Larry Roland on bass and Gerald Cleaver on drums. There are handful of Downtown musicians who were a part of the early scene (late 70’s/early 80’s) who appeared for a few years and seemed to have disappeared for good. Violinist Polly Bradfield is one and reeds player Peter Kuhn, both come to mind. Peter Kuhn appears on just a few records like Frank Lowe’s ‘Lowe & Behold’ (from 1978) as well as a couple of albums as a leader: ‘Living Right’ from 1979 (w/ Toshinori Kondo & Arthur Williams on trumpets) and ‘The Kill’ from 1982 on Soulnote (w/ Wayne Horvitz, William Parker & Dennis Charles). After that, Mr. Kuhn seemed to have disappeared. Plus an early Hat Hut LP from 1980. Which brings us to…
Last year, in April of 2015, Mr. Kuhn found his way back to NYC and played at an Arts For Arts concert series with a new quartet of Downtown’s best: Dave Sewelson, whose career stretches back to the same early DT period as Kuhn’s, plus Larry Roland and Gerald Cleaver. There are three pieces here, each relatively long for stretching out. Starting with Mr. Kuhn on clarinet and Sewelson on bari sax, the quartet is off and soaring tightly, profusely. Although you most likely know the great Gerald Cleaver, one of Downtown’s finest drummers, you might not recognize the equally great Larry Roland, who has played bass for Charles Gayle and Giuseppi Logan, plus has been doing great spoken word performances for William Parker and others. Mr. Cleaver is the secret weapon here since he listens so closely and supports the rest of the quartet with serious aplomb. Both reed players hit their stride midway through the first piece, erupting at times, squealing yet never stepping on each other as they soar. Dave Sewelson has long been one of the unsung heroes of the Downtown Scene, having played with the Microscopic Septet and the Little Huey CM Orchestra for many years. Both saxists are well-matched and switch of between several reeds to keep things interesting. Towards the end of “Our Earth”, the quartet slows down for a free, bluesy exchange that winds down just right. There is a warm, organic quality to the way things unfold here. This is a strong, spirited and solid session which sounds like old friends getting together after many years. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG"

Fantastic news that the lost broadcast of "The Forgiveness Suite" by Arthur Williams has been located and released by NoBusiness Records. It was the sister session to "Livin' Right" and features the same personnel: Toshinori Kindo (tp) William Parke… — Fantastic news that the lost broadcast of "The Forgiveness Suite" by Arthur Williams has been located and released by NoBusiness Records. It was the sister session to "Livin' Right" and features the same personnel: Toshinori Kindo (tp) William Parker (bs), Denis Charles (drm), myself on bass clarinet and Arthur on trumpet and compositions. This is Arthur's only album as leader. He was a good friend, poet, composer and player. It's a shame more of his music wasn't documented, he is remembered and missed.