Peter Friedman

It's an overused word, but I do think that "underrated' is the right way to describe Steve Kuhn. You rarely hear his name mentioned when top level living jazz pianists are discussed, but I believe he belongs in that group. Some of his recordings such as the things on ECM are not to my taste, but most of his recordings for other labels are top quality jazz. His two trio CDs on Concord (Years Later" and "Looking Back") with David Finck and Lewis Nash are first rate. The three fine CDs on Reservoir ("Dedication" and "Countdown" and "The Best Things") have Billy Drummond in place of Nash along with Finck. I have six Steve Kuhn trio CDs on the Venus label and they are all winners. His Venus recordings may be my favorites though it's hard to select just one or two favorites as the quality level is so high throughout all of them. Peter Friedman

Jan Lundgren is one of the better "young' jazz piano players around today. I am not usually a fan of two piano recordings as they tend to get in each others way and get a muddy sound. However, one that I find terrific is: The Pete Jolly-Jan Lundgren Quartet - Collaboration - Fresh Sound 5038 with Chuck Berghofer on bass and Joe LaBarbera on drums. Lundgren also does an excellent job as a sideman on these two CDs: The Conte Candoli Quartet - Portarait Of A count - Fresh Sound 5015 The Conte Candoli Quartet - Conte-Nuity - Fresh Sound 5028 Lundgren has a number of CDs out under his own name on various labels. He has 2 CDs on the Japanese Alfa label with Peter Washington and Billy Drummond titled "A Touch Of You" and "New York Calling". Jan has about a half dozen CDs on the Swedish label called Sittel and a couple of CDs on the Japanese M & I label. He has a trio CD called "Conclusion" on the Passport label. I have just about everything by him, and they are all very good. Peter Friedman

I am also a big fan of Jimmy Rowles. Here are some more Rowles CDs, where he is the leader, that I highly enjoy. Music's The Only Thing On My Mind - Audiophile 188 In Paris - CBS 465633 Profile: The Music Of Henri Renaud - Columbia 474556 2 Isfahan - Sonet 790 Peter Friedman