Rolf Kühn & Joachim Kühn - Music for Two Brothers (2025) [Official Digital Download 24/88]

Although not a free jazz musician, per se, Kuhn has been an avant-gardist; he began attempting a fusion of contemporary classical elements with jazz very early in his career. Kuhn’s intense virtuosity is a reflection of his training. He studied classical composition and piano for 12 years, beginning when he was a small child. He performed as a classical pianist up until 1961, at which point he began playing in a Prague-based jazz quintet. He led a trio from 1962-1966, and in 1964 began playing with his much-older brother Rolf Kuhn, an accomplished clarinetist. In the ’70s, Joachim Kuhn led his own groups, and played with the violinist Jean-Luc Ponty. Kuhn had a measure of commercial success in the ’70s. His star faded a bit in the ’80s, but Kuhn kept active, playing challenging forms of jazz and recording occasionally. A 1997 release, Colors Live From Leipzig, a duo with Ornette Coleman, helped fuel new interest in Kuhn; both men were in top form and the album received excellent reviews.

Rolf Kuhn’s style has evolved through the years. The clarinetist started out playing in German dance bands in the late ’40s. He worked with radio orchestras starting in 1952 and moved to the U.S. in 1956. Kuhn subbed for Benny Goodman on a few occasions during 1957-1958, played in the Tommy Dorsey ghost band (1958), and worked in a big band led by Urbie Green (1958-1960). In 1962, Kuhn returned to Germany, where he has explored more adventurous styles of jazz (including dates with his younger brother, keyboardist Joachim Kuhn) but still occasionally shows off his ties to swing. Kuhn recorded with an all-star group called Winner’s Circle (1957), Toshiko Akiyoshi (1958), and as a leader starting in 1953, including a 1956 New York quartet date for Vanguard.

TRACKLIST

1. Rolf Kühn & Joachim Kühn - My Friend the Yogi
2. Rolf Kühn & Joachim Kühn - Ca. 1-9-5-2
3. Rolf Kühn & Joachim Kühn - Made in Spain
4. Rolf Kühn & Joachim Kühn - Music for Two Brothers
5. Rolf Kühn & Joachim Kühn - One String More
6. Rolf Kühn & Joachim Kühn - Uncle Archibald
7. Rolf Kühn & Joachim Kühn - Hip Elegy in Kingsize
8. Rolf Kühn & Joachim Kühn - First Frisco
9. Rolf Kühn & Joachim Kühn - Swampfire, Pt. I
10. Rolf Kühn & Joachim Kühn - One More Bass Hit



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