Jazz Articles about Kirk Knuffke

Kirk Knuffke: Amnesia Brown

by AAJ Italy Staff
April 20, 2010

L'idillio, musicalmente parlando, nasce all'interno della Nublu Orchestra, la formazione diretta ogni lunedì nell'omonimo locale da Lawrence Butch Morris. Knuffke, Wollesen e Wieselman scoprono più di una affinità elettiva ed il trombettista decide di incidere proprie composizioni utilizzando il talento di Wieselman, sia al clarinetto che alla chitarra, dando vita così ad una sorta di doppio trio. E questa è la prima grande idea di Knuffke, perché a seconda dello strumento imbracciato da Weiselman la musica prende una direzione ben ...

Kirk Knuffke: Amnesia Brown

by Troy Collins
March 12, 2010

Brooklyn-based trumpeter Kirk Knuffke's sophomore effort, Amnesia Brown is a far more esoteric affair than his conventional piano-less quartet debut, Big Wig (Clean Feed, 2008). Eschewing a traditional rhythm section, Knuffke is joined by fellow members of Butch Morris' Nublu Orchestra--legendary Downtown stalwarts Doug Wieselman (on clarinet and electric guitar) and drummer Kenny Wollesen. Through sixteen brief cuts, the trio waxes and wanes from contemplative to impassioned, bounding effortlessly from one mood to the next.

Swinging without constraint, ...

Kirk Knuffke: Amnesia Brown

by Martin Longley
March 8, 2010

Amnesia Brown was the name bestowed upon trumpeter Kirk Knuffke's absconding not-so-great grandfather. Apparently, he just sidestepped to a nearby town (and a new family), changing his name on the way. It's not quite clear how his memory (or lack of it) informs the repertoire of this album, but he also happens to provide the fourth track's title. This trio has its roots in the Nublu Orchestra, which regularly plays a Monday night residency at the East ...

Kirk Knuffke / Federico Ughi / Chris Welcome: Garden Of Gifts

by Mark Corroto
July 13, 2009

There are no signposts to direct towards great free improvisation recordings, because there are no scenic overlooks where it's possible to pull over and take a snapshot or buy a postcard before heading to the next tourist attraction. To take in a recording such as Garden Of Gifts, it's necessary to stand back and take in the whole--the same way the Grand Canyon has to be viewed.

Garden Of Gifts was recorded in May at drummer Federico Ughi's house in ...

Kirk Knuffke Quartet: Bigwig

by Martin Longley
November 17, 2008

Trumpeter Kirk Knuffke has been living in Brooklyn for three years, originally hailing from Denver. Once arriving, he set about forming a trio, but then met up with trombonist Brian Drye and wisely decided to expand into quartet form. The combo's lineup is completed by bassist Reuben Radding and drummer Jeff Davis. As a debut disc (or as any kind of album) Big Wig is a crucial work. Knuffke wrote all of its tunes, daggering into just the right juncture ...

Kirk Knuffke Quartet: Bigwig

by AAJ Italy Staff
October 16, 2008

Davvero un esordio discografico notevole e significativo per il giovane Knuffke, trombettista originario di Detroit ma ormai da tre anni stabile a New York dove ha collaborato, tra gli altri, con Dave Douglas, con John Zorn, con varie orchestre di Butch Morris e con il gruppo del batterista Kenny Wollesen. Incuriosisce innanzitutto la formazione: un quartetto strumentalmente non frequentissimo, in cui sembra di vedere il tentativo di mettere sullo stesso piano il free, il bop e l’esperienza californiana. In effetti, ...

Kirk Knuffke Quartet: Big Wig

by Troy Collins
July 6, 2008

Since moving to New York in 2005 from his native Colorado, the young trumpet player Kirk Knuffke has performed with composer Butch Morris, singer-songwriter Josh Ritter and Downtown drummers Kenny Wollesen and Jeff Davis, among others. Knuffke initially sought out bassist Reuben Radding and drummer Jeff Davis as trio-mates, but a chance encounter with trombonist Brian Drye yielded a quartet.

As members of a new generation of Downtown musicians, these four share a conceptual outlook towards jazz improvisation ...