Emily Kuhn: Ghosts of Us

Emily Kuhn is a trumpet player from Chicago with a calm, lyrical tone whose music is influenced by the folk and classical worlds as well as jazz. That shows up strongly on the track "In Lieu of Certainty, Movement" here, where pianist Meghan Stagl keeps a rippling neo-classical melody going while Kuhn and guitarist Erik Skov solo in front of her with ever-increasing force and purpose. "When The World Is Young" begins with lovely drifting Spanish guitar from Skov before Kuhn and the rest of the band enter, led by the leader's eloquent and reflective playing. On "Ghosts of Us," Kuhn's muted trumpet and Stagl's piano both sing against a lush soundscape traced out by Gustavo Cortiñas' active drumming and Skov's plush chords. The elements of the group also combine beautifully on "Respire" with Kuhn's open horn crying powerfully against the thick guitar and piano background, where Skov's slow twangs touch on Bill Frisell's universe. "When It Rains" stands out as the one track on the album where the group breaks away from atmospherics, and instead swings briskly at a cool jazz temperature with Kuhn, Skov, and Stagl all getting a chance to sparkle.

The music on this album, written during the pandemic, has a haunting and reflective quality. It is played by Kuhn and her quintet with delicacy and precision and carries solid emotion beneath its surface. It is a fine statement of Emily Kuhn's talents as a musician and composer.