PETER KUHN
Genres: Avant-Garde Jazz, 21st Century Modern • United States

Clarinetist and saxophonist Peter Kuhn took a chance relocating to New York from his native California in 1977, encouraged by Anthony Braxton, and soon began playing and recording with figures like bassist William Parker, violinist Billy Bang, saxophonists Frank Lowe and Dave Sewelson, and leading his own ensembles for Soul Note, Hat Hut, and his own Big City Records. Unfortunately, Kuhn had a massive heroin habit that, coupled with an already hand-to-mouth existence in the Lower East Side, precipitated a return to California in 1981 — causing him to subsequently leave music and suffer periods of incarceration and homelessness. Kuhn was able to kick it and has remained sober since 1986, though resultant health issues have presented their own serious challenges. Though his few leader dates are as obscure as they are remarkable, a return to — or perhaps exceeding of — form in 2016 with a new trio is read more...