KIRK KNUFFKE — Arms and Hands (review)

KIRK KNUFFKE — Arms and Hands album cover Album · 2015 · Avant-Garde Jazz Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
snobb
New York-based cornet player Kirk Knuffke is one among most interesting new generation reeds player both sides of Atlantic. Recording regularly on Danish SteepleChase label with many leading mainstream and adventurous jazz musicians he is known as the artist, easily combining tradition and advanced techniques.

On his "Arms And Hands"(one of three albums Knuffke as leader released in 2015)he leads a bit unusual trio with former Anthony Braxton/Cecil Taylor bassist Mark Helias and mainstream veteran drummer Bill Goodwin(who worked with Phil Woods, Art Pepper and Charles Lloyd among others).The album contains fifteen short songs (all but one are Knuffke originals), on half of them trio of guests (Daniel Carter on alto,Brian Drye on trombone and Jeff Lederer on soprano and tenor)are presented as well.

Quite differently from many other Knuffke works "Arms And Hands" is quite easy accessible album,full of fun. It opens with New Orlean style sounding "Safety Shoes" and that atmosphere of Art Ensemble of Chicago's kind of jazz circus doesn't disappear all album long. There are some funky tunes and soul jazz songs, some freer improvs are combined with very boppish pieces, and in all whole album builds very lively and even festive atmosphere.

The only problem here is as a collection of many short compositions the album from some point starts sounding a bit monotonous. Tunes' bits are partially missing in quite eclectic musical entirety and absence of catchy points causes "sameness" feel. Still very bright and playful release not overloaded with pseudo-serious formalism.
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