Life's Magic by Steve Kuhn

1. Little Old Lady (Stanley Adams / Hoagy Carmichael)
2. Two By Two (Kuhn)
3. Jitterbug Waltz (Thomas "Fats" Waller)
4. Ulla / Trance (Kuhn)
5. Yesterday's Gardenias (Sammy Mysels / Dick Robertson / Nelson Cogane)
6. Mr. Calypso Kuhn (Kuhn)
7. Never Let Me Go (Raymond Evans / Jay Livingstone)
8. Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise (Oscar Hammerstein II / Sigmund Romberg)

CD Quality - 16 bit / 44.1 khz

Back in 1986, when this music was recorded live at the Village Vanguard in New York City, I felt like a kid in a candy store… I was so happy to be playing with Ron and Al. They play with such ease and conviction… It was truly inspiring to be on the same bandstand with them. Listening back to the music now after almost 30 years, I think the freshness and vitality still exist. I am so happy Sunnyside is re-releasing this. I hope you enjoy it. Thank you.
- Steve Kuhn

Pianist Steve Kuhn’s notes explain most succinctly why this album Life’s Magic shouldn’t be lost to the jazz past. The live collaboration between Kuhn and the legendary bassist Ron Carter and drummer Al Foster has been out of print for over twenty years. Sunnyside is happy to reissue this tremendous document as an expanded CD and digital release with two additional tracks from the trio’s 1986 alliance at the Village Vanguard in New York City.

Kuhn has long been an innovator and highly esteemed practitioner behind the keyboard. Life’s Magic was a recording released by Black-Hawk Records in 1986. The recording was recorded live between March 28 and 30, 1986 at the venerable New York landmark, the Village Vanguard.

The pianist recruited the rhythm tandem Ron Carter and Al Foster to accompany him on a program featuring four originals and three inspired renditions of jazz standards, including Stanley Adams and Hoagy Carmichael’s “Little Old Lady,” Fats Waller’s “Jitterbug Waltz” and Mysels/Robertson/Cogane’s gem “Yesterday’s Gardenias.” The new CD edition includes two previously unreleased tracks, Raymond Evans/Jay Livingstone’s “Never Let Me Go” and Hammerstein/Romberg’s “Softly As In A Morning Sunrise.”

Life’s Magic stands as a terrific document of Kuhn’s artistic prowess as composer, stylist and interpreter. The powerful group that he led for this session was second to none and provided a performance that will be enjoyed for generations to come.