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George Kahn

Playing Records is proud to announce the release “STRAIGHT AHEAD”, George Kahn’s collaboration with Alex Acuña (drums) and Lyman Medeiros (bass). The project is George’s 9th album release and his first in the traditional piano trio format.

The album consists 12 new tracks performed by the trio: 7 original compositions, each one in tribute to a pianist that is an inspiration to George (jazz greats like Dave Brubeck, Wynton Kelly, Red Garland, Roger Kellaway, and Joe Sample) and 5 “cover tunes” that are creative takes on current pop artists (Prince, Adele, The Weeknd, Ed Sheeran)

GEORGE KAHN – PIANO When a young musician’s sources of inspiration are jazz greats like Dave Brubeck, Ramsey Lewis, Joe Sample, Vince Guaraldi, and Wynton Kelly, you’d figure that his own music would turn out to be pretty special — and in the case of jazz pianist and composer GEORGE KAHN, you’d be right. His music captures the feel of the West Coast Jazz scene of the '50s & '60s, but with a contemporary edge. Kahn’s music has been featured on many TV shows and advertisements, including “Men Of A Certain Age”, “ER," “The Young and the Restless,” and “How William Shatner Changed the World." In December 2012, George also received a Certificate of Recognition from the City of Los Angeles for his dedication to helping end homelessness in Los Angeles.

ALEX ACUNA – DRUMS Alex is probably best known for his work with Weather Report as their original drummer and percussionist. He has worked with Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock and others too numerous to mention. Now an in- demand session musician in Los Angeles, an average week for Alex will range from performing at Disney Hall to playing on the new Star Wars soundtrack.

LYMAN MEDEIROS – BASS One of the best young bassists in Los Angeles, Lyman is known to his friends as ‘Big Funky” (wonder why?. Lyman is a professor at Musicians Institute and tours regularly with Steve Tyrell, Dianne Schuur and others.

A major force in the Los Angeles jazz community since the late 1990s, pianist-composer George Kahn released "Straight Ahead", a "Top 100" jazz album in Mrrch 2018, The new album features a jazz trio of George, Alex Acuna on drums and Lyman Medeiros on bass. Think Ramsey Lewis Trio, or Gene Harris, or Vince Guaraldi

“People always respond to songs they know,” says George Kahn. “Thinking about it, I realized that I'd always wanted to create jazz versions of tunes that one does not normally hear in a jazz setting. Rather than perform ‘Stella By Starlight' or ‘Autumn Leaves' yet again, I thought it would be fun to play songs that are more current, songs by Ed Sheeran, The Weeknd or Adele

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9
Album Review

George Kahn: DreamCatcher

Read "DreamCatcher" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan


George Kahn is another one of those talented West Coast jazz pianists, in the fashion of Dave Brubeck, Ramsey Lewis, Vince Guaraldi and Wynton Kelly. His recorded output presents a sound with a clean, bright polish, and an engaging, easy swing. Each of his previous discs shines a light on the beauty of the mainstream, especially on his terrific 2018 outing Straight Ahead (Playing Records). His tenth album, Dreamcatcher, carries on with that tradition. The group is the ...

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Take Five With...

Take Five with George Kahn

Read "Take Five with George Kahn" reviewed by AAJ Staff


Meet George Kahn George Kahn majored in music at Brandeis University and moved to jny: Los Angeles in 1976 to pursue a music career as a pianist and film composer. His jazz recording career now spans over 20 years. The George Kahn Trio album, released in 2018 reached #16 on the JazzWeek Charts. His new album, George Kahn Quartet -DreamCatcher was released on November 6, 2020. Instrument: Piano. Teachers and/or influences? I studied classical music growing ...

6
Album Review

George Kahn: Straight Ahead

Read "Straight Ahead" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan


Los Angeles-based pianist George Kahn likes to think of the standard piano trio format as a gateway drug into jazz. He may be right. Think of the classic trios, those of Red Garland, Nat King Cole, Bud Powell. Their sounds are addictive--and distinctively different--but they share the pared-down purity of purpose and relative simplicity of dynamic range that distills the listening experience to its essence. With that essence in mind, Kahn offers up the first trio outing of ...

21
Album Review

George Kahn: Jazz & Blues Revue

Read "Jazz & Blues Revue" reviewed by Edward Blanco


Billed as the “Sass 'n' Soul World Tour," LA jazz pianist George Kahn presents the Jazz & Blues Revue, his eighth album as leader featuring three of LA's finest female jazz vocalist in his first all-vocal project and departure from previous recordings. On tap, fresh new arrangements of thirteen songs that obviously, not only touch on the jazz and blues landscape but, also include elements from the R&B and soul genres. On vocals throughout the session are Gina Saputo, a ...

322
Album Review

George Kahn: Secrets from the Jazz Ghetto

Read "Secrets from the Jazz Ghetto" reviewed by Edward Blanco


West Coast jazz pianist George Kahn revisits past successes on Secrets From The Jazz Ghetto selecting some of his best compositions from five of his previous six albums for this compilation recording. This seventh outing contains 26 pieces covering a range of styles from contemporary to bebop, and from Bossa Nova to Latin and Cool jazz. Though the main repertoire on this two-disc set album reprises music recorded between 1998 to 2008, there are seven new recordings revealed here as ...

204
Album Review

George Kahn: Cover Up!

Read "Cover Up!" reviewed by Edward Blanco


West Coast jazz pianist George Kahn presents fresh new arrangements to pop and rock tunes associated with such groups as Cream, The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Bill Withers and John Mayer, in a sense redefining or adding to the controversy, or, as the title of his album would suggest, the Cover Up! of what truly defines the West Coast Jazz. To Kahn, the genre is mainly “an attitude, a feeling, a 'vibe' ... an answer ... when the big bands died ...

340
Album Review

George Kahn: Cover Up!

Read "Cover Up!" reviewed by Jay Deshpande


In the liner notes to Cover Up!, George Kahn discusses his goal of drawing upon the heritage of west coast jazz. For most people, this brings to mind Gerry Mulligan, Chet Baker, or the Lighthouse All Stars. For Kahn, though, it means a particular way of portraying the popular songs of his youth--tunes that fall outside the normal purview of jazz. On this disc, he provides graceful renditions of Eric Clapton, Pink Floyd, The Beatles, John Mayer, ...

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Event

Pianist George Kahn George Kahn 'Some Good Jazz News' Virtual Viewing Party Premieres on Sunday December 6

Pianist George Kahn George Kahn 'Some Good Jazz News' Virtual Viewing Party Premieres  on Sunday December 6

Source: George Kahn

West Coast Jazz Recording Artist George Kahn Presents SOME GOOD JAZZ NEWS A Virtual Video Premiere Party – Sunday December 6 at 6:00 PM PT Please join George Kahn along with Pat Kelley, David Hughes, Alex Acuña and special guests for SOME GOOD JAZZ NEWS, a Virtual Video Premiere Party This Sunday December 6. To celebrate the release of his 10th album, DreamCatcher, George has put together an hour of GOOD JAZZ NEWS including the premiere of three ...

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Advocacy

Path Ventures And Pianist George Kahn 2018 Jazz Night Fundraiser For The Homeless Raises Over $120,000

Path Ventures And Pianist George Kahn 2018 Jazz Night Fundraiser For The Homeless Raises Over $120,000

Source: Imaginary Friends

On Thursday, October 18th, 2018 PATH Ventures celebrated their 11th year by hosting their 11th Annual Holiday Jazz Night, an unforgettable evening of dinner, music, and fun at the Broad Stage in Santa Monica, CA. The event featured Jazz Pianist and Composer, George Kahn with his all-star Jazz & Blues Revue. The 8-piece band features Courtney Lemmon, Gina Saputo and Crystal Starr on vocals, Robert Kyle on saxophone, Nolan Shaheed on trumpet, Gary Wicks on bass, Grammy-nominated MB Gordy on ...

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Recording

West Coast Jazz Recording Artist George Kahn Releases New Album "Straight Ahead" Featuring Alex Acuña And Lyman Medieros

West Coast Jazz Recording Artist George Kahn Releases New Album "Straight Ahead" Featuring Alex Acuña And Lyman Medieros

Source: Imaginary Friends

West Coast Jazz pianist George Kahn’s ninth album is a groove party from start to finish. The twelve tracks (all featuring George on piano, Alex Acuña on drums, and Lyman Medeiros on bass) were recorded live in studio over three days. The songs build on Kahn’s love affair with West Coast Jazz, presenting seven new originals dedicated to jazz greats like Dave Brubeck, Wynton Kelly and Joe Sample. Five cover tunes (Adele, The Weekend, Ed Sheeran and more) round out ...

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Event

George Kahn Jazz & Blues Revue, Celebrating Ten Years Of Path Ventures On September 14 At Vibiana In Downtown Los Angeles

George Kahn Jazz & Blues Revue, Celebrating Ten Years Of Path Ventures On September 14 At Vibiana In Downtown Los Angeles

Source: Imaginary Friends

When things get tough financially, very often it is a matter of circumstance, not a matter of choice—it could be an outsourced job, or a medical emergency, or a car accident when you have insufficient insurance. Whatever it is that takes you over that edge, things can happen when there are too many bills, too many creditors calling and not enough to keep a roof over your head. This is where PATH (People Assisting The Homeless) and their housing division, ...

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Crowdfunding Campaign

George Kahn Trio Launches New Jazz Album Kickstarter Campaign

George Kahn Trio Launches New Jazz Album Kickstarter Campaign

Source: Imaginary Friends

Playing Records is proud to announce a new collaboration with jazz musicians George Kahn, Alex Acuña and Lyman Medeiros to produce and release videos and recordings as The George Kahn Trio. The album project is being crowd-funded with a Kickstarter campaign that continues through August 8, 2017. The project will include six new straight-ahead compositions, and six arrangements of contemporary pop tunes (think Prince, Ed Sheeran, Adele, The Weeknd) performed by the trio. The album (working title: The Bar Is ...

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Advocacy

Path Ventures And George Kahn 11th Annual Jazz & Blues Revue Fundraiser For The Homeless Raises Over $54,000

Path Ventures And George Kahn 11th Annual Jazz & Blues Revue Fundraiser For The Homeless Raises Over $54,000

Source: Imaginary Friends

On Thursday, November 10th, 2016 PATH Ventures hosted their 11th Annual Holiday Jazz Revue, an unforgettable evening of dinner, music, and fun at the classic Catalina Bar and Grill in Hollywood, CA. The event featured Jazz Pianist and Composer, George Kahn with an all-star band of L.A. studio artists. With the help of a sold-out crowd, plus generous corporate sponsors including City National Bank, over $54,000 was donated to directly support affordable housing developments across Southern California. There are over ...

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Event

Path Ventures Presents The 11th Annual George Kahn Jazz & Blues Revue Fundraiser For The Homeless on November 10, 2016

Path Ventures Presents The 11th Annual George Kahn Jazz & Blues Revue Fundraiser For The Homeless on November 10, 2016

Source: Imaginary Friends

Let the GIVING season begin…with an evening of great Jazz that’s also a benefit for the Los Angeles homeless community. On Thursday, November 10th, PATH Ventures will host their 11th Annual Holiday Jazz Revue, an unforgettable evening of dinner, music, and fun at the classic Catalina Jazz Club in jny: Los Angeles, CA. The event will take place from 6:45-10:00 PM and feature Jazz Pianist and Composer, George Kahn with an all-star band of L.A. studio artists plus guest vocalists ...

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Event

Down—But Not Out—In Los Angeles: How A Jazz Band Is Helping Solve The Homeless Crisis In Hollywood

Down—But Not Out—In Los Angeles: How A Jazz Band Is Helping Solve The Homeless Crisis In Hollywood

Source: Imaginary Friends

By George Kahn There is a housing crisis in jny: Los Angeles. Some people call it a homeless crisis—I think of it as a housing crisis. You see it in Downtown: As the gentrification picks up speed, the old “flop house” hotels get converted to hip apartments and the condos start selling at $550,000. You see it in West Los Angeles: Now starter homes are selling for $800,000 and being torn down by developers to make million-dollar houses. You see ...

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Event

Path Ventures Presents The 10th Annual George Kahn Jazz & Blues Revue Fundraiser For The Homeless Wednesday November 11, 2015

Path Ventures Presents The 10th Annual George Kahn Jazz & Blues Revue Fundraiser For The Homeless Wednesday November 11, 2015

Source: Imaginary Friends

Come join us on Veterans Day night and help bring a veteran home. On Wednesday, November 11th, PATH Ventures will host their 10th Annual Holiday Jazz Revue, an unforgettable evening of dinner, music, and fun at the classic Catalina Bar and Grill in Hollywood, CA. The event will take place from 6:30-10:00 PM and feature Jazz Pianist and Composer, George Kahn with an all-star band of L.A. studio artists. Jazz legend Bubba Jackson from KJAZZ, will return this year as ...

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Performance / Tour

Path Ventures And George Kahn Jazz & Blues Revue 9th Annual Fundraiser Assisting The Homeless December 10th, 2014

Path Ventures And George Kahn Jazz & Blues Revue 9th Annual Fundraiser Assisting The Homeless December 10th, 2014

Source: Imaginary Friends

Let the holidays begin... with an evening of great Jazz that’s also a benefit for the jny: Los Angeles homeless community. On Wednesday, December 10th, PATH Ventures will host their 9th Annual Holiday Jazz & Blues Revue, an unforgettable evening of dinner, music, and fun at the classic Catalina Bar and Grill. The event will take place from 6:30-10:00 PM and features Jazz Pianist and Composer, George Kahn with singers Courtney Lemmon, Crystal Starr and Gina Saputo, along with all ...

"Kahn is a mainstream pianist whose work is a compendium of most of the great styles and motifs of late '50s to mid '60s jazz, a glorious period when seemingly anything was possible within the music. He's capable of introspective lyricism, funk-drenched backbeats, modal ruminations and flat-out swing. His current album, Secrets From the Jazz Ghetto, compiles his original compositions from previous releases and adds seven new pieces." - Kirk Silsbee

"It's jazz. Why Cream? Why not? Kahn's goal is "to create music that is classic, contemporary, hip and cool, all at once." He has been doing just that in his recordings since founding his independent label, Playing Records, in 1999. For his sixth CD, Cover Up!, he has created jazz versions of music he grew up with, including Cream, the Beatles, Pink Floyd, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Wes Mongomery, and Blue Mitchell." - Bill Falconer, Jazzreview.com

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Primary Instrument

Piano

Location

Los Angeles

Clinic/Workshop Information

Basics of Jazz Improvization The Art of Comping

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

DreamCatcher

Playing Records
2020

buy

Straight Ahead

Playing Records
2018

buy

Jazz & Blues Revue

Playing Records
2014

buy

Secrets from the Jazz...

Playing Records
2010

buy

Cover Up!

Playing Records
2009

buy

...Compared to What?

Playing Records
2004

buy

Sombras De Noite (Night Shadows)

From: Secrets from the Jazz Ghetto
By George Kahn

Wes' Coast

From: Cover Up!
By George Kahn

Gnome Sayin'

From: ...Compared to What?
By George Kahn

Videos

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