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| Pianist George Kahn Wins Temecula Valley Jazz Festival July 12, at the Temecula Valley International Jazz Festival, George Kahn had the honor of winning the 2008 Chuck Niles Bebop Award. This award, in its fourth year, is given by the Niles family in honor of Chuck Niles, the voice of jazz in Los Angeles for over 50 years. The award is handed out each year to the artist who best embodies the Niles genre of music: big band, swing, be-bop, Latin and vocalists. For the winning performance George performed with Karl Vincent on bass and Bebop legend Dick Berk on drums. As the winner, George receives a day of recording at the Park Hill Music Gwen Gordy Studio, along with $500. and a commemorative plaque. It is an incredible honor to be recognized by this award, and George looks forward to many more years of carrying on the Jazz Torch, in honor of “Bebop Charlie". George's latest CD release (his sixth) Cover Up! entered the Jazz Week Charts week last at 48 and climbed this week to 38 with a Bullet. George Kahn's Cover Up! doesn't waste any time. The swing kicks in hard and fast---' Cover Up! is a sterling musical statement from an unselfish and swinging pianist. Don't let it go unnoticed. Alfredo Cruz - KRTU Jazz for San Antonio It's guys like pianist George Kahn that make me glad I live on the West Coast, and can take in the local jazz scene. This latest release has Kahn leading a band that includes the stellar foundational trio with Alex Acuna (d & p) and Brian Bromberg (b), as well as guitarist Pat Kelly, tenorist extraordinaire Justo Almario (who would have statue in a park if he lived in NY) and trumpeter John Fumo... Kahn seems most at home in the trio setting, which is where he seems to be most inspired. He takes Cream's “Sunshine Of Your Love" and turns it from a rocker into a snapper. Keeping with the 60's his version of “Eleanor Rigby" brings out the loneliness of the melody that would make McCartney smile. Keeping with the Fab Four, he takes an ingenious twist of “Yesterday" and segues it into the standard “Yesterdays" as if they were written for each other. Bromberg, on this tune and on “Waiting On The World" delivers some jaw dropping solo work. This is a trio that plays like they grew up together. He's always somewhere in town; make it a point to see this overlooked star. - George Harris write your comments about the article :: © 2008 Jazz News :: home page |